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THE  LIFE 


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Presented    bv  Vr<2y^\  c\(S\^\^VcA-W 


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BX  6495  .E85  E85  1891 
Everts,  W.  W.  1849-1926. 
The  life  of  Rev.  W.  W. 
Everts , 


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THE   LIFE 


OF 


REV.  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D 


BY 

HIS    SON. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

LOUIS     H.    KVKRTS. 
18  91. 


Copyright,  1891,  by  Key.  ^Y.  W.  Everts,  D.D. 


PEEFAOE. 


Herder,  in  speaking  of  a  national  biography,  remarks  that 
"  the  names  of  those  only  should  have  a  place  in  it  who  have 
contributed  something  to  the  well-being  of  mankind.  The 
chief  aim  of  biography  is  to  show  how  the  man  became  what 
he  was,  what  obstacles  he  had  to  encounter,  how  far  he  went, 
what  he  left  to  be  done  by  others,  and  how  he  himself  regarded 
the  work  of  his  life." 

The  life  of  Dr.  Everts,  aside  from  the  pastorate,  was  devoted 
to  the  establishment  of  educational  institutions  in  Chicago,  to 
the  dedication  of  church  buildings,  chiefly  in  the  West,  and 
to  the  advocacy  of  pure  translations  of  the  Bible  throughout 
the  world.  The  obstacles  he  met  with,  especially  in  this 
public  service,  and  the  joy  that  came  at  last  with  the  firm 
establishment  of  the  institutions  and  ideas  with  which  he 
had  been  identified,  are  fully  stated  in  the  following  pages : 

"  It  has  seemed  to  me  that  my  public  life,  in  its  enthusi- 
astic co-operation  with  the  denomination  and  with  public 
progress,  might  be  a  guide  to  some  making  the  public  service 
their  aim,  and  give  them  hints  of  methods  and  warnings  of 
trials  incident  to  all  honest  and  earnest  workers.  My  indi- 
viduality seemed  to  me  lost  in  devotion  to  the  public  good, 
in  measures  for  social  and  Christian  progress."     These  senti- 

3 


4  PREFACE. 

meDts  of  the  subject  of  this  memoir  have  been  the  inspira- 
tion in  the  preparation  of  this  volume.  No  one  need  turn  these 
pages  expecting  to  find  profound  speculations  or  poetical 
fancies,  for  the  life  of  which  they  treat  was  devoted  to  other 
ends.  But  if  any  one  is  interested  in  the  present  rather  than 
in  the  past,  in  the  practical  rather  than  in  the  ideal ;  if  any 
one  is  stirred  by  the  contemplation  of  a  leader  "  without  fear 
and  without  reproach,"  of  an  orator  who  sways  the  multitude 
for  noble  ends,  of  a  reformer  of  abuses,  of  an  organizer  with 
far-reaching  plans,  of  a  creator  of  permanent  material  enter- 
prises, such  an  one  will  be  quickened  by  reading  this  brief 

memoir  of  an  active  and  effective  life. 

W.  W.  Everts. 
Haverhill,  Mass.,  March  20,  1891. 


COI^TENTS. 


CHAPTER    I.  PAGE 

The  Years  of  Preparation 7 

CHAPTER    II. 
In  the  Flush  of  Manhood 14 

CHAPTER    III. 
Life  in  Kentucky 2G 

CHAPTER    IV. 
Growing  up  with  Chicago 46 

CHAPTER    V. 

Ix  THE  Service  of  the  Denomination  at  Large    .    .      66 

CHAPTER    VI. 
Fiery  Trials 87 

CHAPTER    VII. 
The  old  University  of  Chicago 94 

CHAPTER    VIII. 
The  Theological  Seminary  at  Chicago 109 

CHAPTER    IX. 

Labors  in  behalf  of  Pure  Versions  of  the  Bible  .    117 

CHAPTER    X. 

The  Journey's  End 129 

5 


THE  LIFE 

OF 


REV.  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 


CHAPTER    I. 

THE   YEARS   OF   PREPARATION. 

John  Evarts,  the  ancestor  of  the  Enghsh  line  of  families 
in  the  United  States  bearing  the  name  Evarts  or  Everts,  was 
one  of  the  freemen  who  founded  the  town  of  Guilford,  Con- 
necticut. He  settled  there  a  little  later  than  the  rest,  in 
1652.  There  his  descendants  lived  until  the  close  of  the 
war  of  the  Kevolution,  when  some  of  them  removed  to  Sun- 
derland, Vermont.  Here  Jeremiah,  the  father  of  the  United 
States  Senator  William  M.  Evarts,  and  his  cousin  Samuel, 
the  father  of  William  Wallace  Everts,  were  born.  Samuel, 
whose  father  had  been  a  sea-captain  at  Guilford,  married 
Phebe  Spicer,  whose  grandfather  likewise  had  commanded 
at  sea.  Their  son  William  was  born  April  14,  1814,  in- 
herited his  fearlessness,  ready  resource,  and  power  to  com- 
mand, from  both  his  paternal  and  maternal  ancestors.  His 
father  was  a  leader  of  the  militia,  raised  a  company  for  the 
war  of  1812,  and  was  appointed  brigadier-general.  He 
transmitted  to  his  son  an  erect  figure,  a  military  bearing,  and 
ability  to  endure  hardness  as  a  good  soldier. 

After  the  war,  the  brigadier  became  sheriff  of  the  county, 

7 


8  THE    LIFE    or   REV.  ^Y.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 

and  his  little  son  learned  to  admire  feats  of  agility  and 
prowess  exhibited  in  the  chase  and  capture  of  daring  law- 
breakers. On  training  days  of  the  militia,  the  father  looked 
on  and  inspired  his  son  to  excel  in  the  exciting  sports.  He 
would  take  him  when  quite  young  to  a  deep  place  in  the 
creek,  and  leap  or  dive  into  the  water  with  the  child  upon  his 
back.  Such  were  the  hardihood  and  courage  thus  developed, 
that  this  boy  was  put  forward  at  wrestling  matches  as  the 
village  champion. 

But  his  father  was  no  less  ambitious  for  the  intellectual 
advancement  of  his  family.  As  he  had  been  a  student  at 
Middlebury  College,  Vermont,  and  his  wife  had  been  a 
school-teacher,  the  children  received  at  home  an  intellectual 
stimulus  that  led  six  of  them  to  choose  a  professional  life. 
The  spiritual,  as  well  as  the  mental,  needs  of  his  children 
were  objects  of  the  father's  care.  While  occupied  in  military 
duties,  he  would  improve  a  pause  in  a  parade  to  converse  upon 
religious  themes.  In  his  frequent  journeys  on  court  business, 
such  was  his  religious  ardor,  that  he  was  known  as  "  the 
minister."  When  he  removed  his  family  to  a  new  region,  two 
thoughts  were  in  his  mind, — viz.,  to  establish  a  day-school 
and  a  Sunday-school. 

When  William  was  but  twelve  years  old,  his  father  died, 
and  the  further  moulding  of  the  boy's  religious  character  de- 
volved on  his  mother.  Phebe  Spicer  was  a  spirit  well  mated 
to  her  husband.  There  was  a  flavor  of  romance  about  the 
marriage,  for  the  maiden  had  had  two  suitors  for  her  hand. 
For  some  time  she  was  at  a  loss  how  to  decide  between  them. 
But  one  night  she  dreamed  that  the  two  young  men  were 
drowning,  and  that  she,  standing  on  the  bank,  could  save  but 
one.  Quickly  her  choice  was  made,  and  the  choice  of  her 
dream  became  that  of  her  life.  She  had  inherited  from  her 
mother  and  grandmother  a  strong  religious  nature,  and,  when 


THE   YEARS   OF   PREPARATION.  9 

a  little  child,  had  learned  to  walk  with  God.  She  was  well 
named  Phebe,  for,  like  her  namesake,  she  was  "  a  servant  of 
the  church  and  a  succorer  of  many."  No  person,  during  her 
long  life,  ever  came  into  her  presence  without  receiving  a 
Christian  message.  After  her  husband's  death  she  conducted 
the  family  prayers,  and  if  minister  and  deacon  failed  to  ap- 
pear at  a  funeral,  her  voice  gave  Christian  burial  to  the  dead 
and  comfort  to  the  living.  The  death  of  her  husband  was 
the  severest  trial  of  her  faith.  They  had  just  emigrated,  by 
ox-teams  and  canal-boats,  from  the  Green  Mountain  region  to 
the  territory  beyond  Lake  Erie.  It  was  in  the  fatal  year 
1826,  when  the  dreaded  fever  ravaged  the  new  settlements 
of  Michigan.  Her  oldest  daughter  had  just  recovered  from 
the  disease,  when  the  stay  of  the  household  was  stricken 
down.  Betaking  herself  to  a  retired  spot  to  pray,  she 
wrestles  in  mute  agony  for  the  life  of  her  dear  one.  As  she 
can  find  no  words  to  utter,  she  becomes  confident  that  his 
death  is  decreed,  and,  arising  from  her  knees,  she  returns  to 
her  house  and  calmly  awaits  the  flight  of  his  spirit.  Again, 
after  prayer,  she  determines,  against  the  entreaties  and 
promises  of  kind  neighbors,  to  return  to  the  East;  for  a 
voice  has  been  heard,  saying,  "  Go  back,  and  I  will  take  care 
of  thy  children  ;  they  shall  be  mine."  Her  composure  does 
not  forsake  her  when,  in  a  terrible  storm  on  Lake  Erie,  all 
the  passengers  expect  that  the  steamboat  on  which  she  has 
embarked  will  sink.  Almost  penniless,  the  widow  arrives  with 
her  large  family  among  old  neighbors  at  Clarkson,  New  York. 
Well  might  she  have  used  the  words  of  Naomi,  under  similar 
circumstances,  "  Call  me  not  Naomi,  call  me  Mara ;  for  the 
Almighty  hath  dealt  very  bitterly  with  me." 

It  was  some  comfort  to  twelve-year-old  Willie  that  they 
did  not  have  to  beg,  though  he  admitted  that  they  had  a  good 
many  presents.     He  was  taken  into  a  doctor's  family,  where 


10  THE   LIFE   OF   REV.  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 

he  had  everything  he  wanted  ;  but  he  would  not  be  petted 
and  treated  as  a  child,  and  ran  away  to  his  mother,  saying  to 
her,  "  I'll  never  amount  to  anything  there,  so  I  left."  He 
was  then  sent  to  a  farmer  in  the  town  of  Sweden.  Away 
from  home  at  a  formative  period  in  life,  he  came  into  evil 
association  with  older  boys.  Information  of  this  soon  reached 
his  watchful  mother,  who  flew  to  his  rescue.  Without  a  word 
of  reproach,  she  disclosed  her  tender  love  for  him,  and  ex- 
pressed her  confidence  in  his  future.  "  My  dear  son  will 
remember  his  father's  honor  and  his  mother's  prayers,  and 
avoid  evil  companions."  "  That  tender  and  confiding  appeal 
reached  my  conscience  till  I  was  converted.  My  mother, 
more  than  any  other  human  being,  determined  my  character 
and  destiny,"  is  the  tribute  of  later  years  to  her  memory. 
When  he  was  thirteen  years  old,  there  was  a  revival  in  the 
school  he  was  attending  in  Clarkson,  and  he  was  one  of  the 
converts.  One  day,  at  the  close  of  school,  after  the  Bible 
was  read,  he  was  surprised  at  being  called  on  to  pray,  and 
thus  singled  out  for  a  public  service.  As  there  was  no  Bap- 
tist church  in  the  place,  he  delayed  making  a  public  profession 
of  his  faith,  and  thereby  lost  his  interest  in  religion.  His 
brother  Jeremiah,  then  a  student  for  the  ministry,  visited 
him  and  warned  him  of  the  peril  of  a  life  not  publicly  com- 
mitted to  God,  and  secured  the  promise  of  an  immediate 
settlement  of  the  question.  To  fulfil  the  promise  and  to  end 
the  controversy  of  life,  a  lonely  spot  was  sought,  and,  like 
Jacob  at  Peniel,  he  spent  hours  in  wrestling,  agonizing  prayer. 
Exhausted,  faint,  despairing  of  ever  attaining  positive  as- 
surance of  salvation,  he  at  last  resolved,  whether  knowing  or 
not  knowing,  to  follow  Christ,  to  be  with  Christians,  and  to 
live  as  a  Christian  should.  Accordingly,  in  the  spring  of  1829, 
he  was  baptized  at  Sweden  by  Elder  Zenas  Case.  The  next 
year,  with  his  employer's  consent,  he  went  with  his  mother 


THE   YEARS   OF   PREPARATION. 


11 


to  a  protracted  meeting  at  Holly.     The  Spirit  of  God  was 
present  to  save,  and  inquirers  in  large  numbers  came  forward 
to  the  anxious  seats.    Prayer  was  to  be  offered  for  them,  when , 
strange  to  say,  three  persons  who  were  called  on  to  pray,— a 
Presbyterian  minister,  a  Methodist  minister,  and  a  Baptist 
deacon,— each  in  turn  declined,  whereupon  the  leader  said, 
<'  William  Everts,  come  up  here  and  pray."     The  boy  did  as 
he  was  bidden,  and  such  was  the  fervor  of  his  prayer  that, 
when  he  had  finished,  a  woman  turned  to  his  mother  and 
said,  "  Do  you  know  who  that  boy  is?"     She  replied,  "  It  is 
a  child  the  Lord  gave  me."     Then  came  the  impassioned  out- 
burst  of    feeling,    "Blessed   art   thou   among  women,  and 
blessed  is  the  fruit  of  thy  womb."     The  language  of  this 
woman  expressed  the  general  feeling.     The  moderator,  Pvcv. 
Henry  Davis,  took  the  youth  to  his  own  house  at  Bockport, 
and  next  year,  with  the  hearty  endorsement  of  the  church, 
sent  him  to  Hamilton,  New  York,  to  study  for  the  ministry. 

In  the  fall  of  1831  he  arrived  at  school,  with  just  three 
dollars  in  his  pocket.     There  was  no  "  Education  Society" 
to  look  to  for  aid,  and  the  friends  at  home  were  unable  to 
render  further  assistance.     But,  if   there  was  plain  living, 
there  was  high  thinking  in  the  company  of  Comstock,  How- 
ard, Vinton,  Bead,  Wheelock,  Spear,  Knapp,  Freeman,  and 
Baymond.     The  chapel  bell  rang  at  five  o'clock  in  the  morn- 
ing, but  young  Everts  found  time  before  chapel  to  earn  his 
dally  bread.    Poverty  was  no  disadvantage.    Porridge  proved 
good  food  for  the  brain.     The  youth  rose  to  the  head  of  his 
class  and  kept  there.     Yet  now  and  then  ambition  succumbed 
to  homesickness,  as  occurred  one  Saturday  when  he  was  walk- 
ing down  the  Chenango  valley  to  spend  a  vacation  with  a 
hospitable  family  at  North  Norwich.     He  became  weary  and 
footsore  before  he  was  met  by  the  promised  conveyance,  and, 
as  he  sat  down  by  the  wayside  to  rest,  was  suddenly  over 


12  THE   LIFE   OF   REV.  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 

whelmed  by  a  sense  of  liis  lonely  condition  and  uncertain 
future,  and  for  once  in  his  life  gave  way  to  melancholy.  In 
those  early  years  of  struggle,  he  often  recalled  his  mother's 
injunction,  "  In  all  thy  ways  acknowledge  Him,  and  He  will 
direct  thy  steps."  During  the  last  years  at  Hamilton  he  was 
less  cramped.  As  early  as  1 834  he  obtained  the  supply  of  a 
pulpit  occasionally.  Then  his  vacations  were  profitable,  that 
of  1835  being  spent  with  the  Second  Baptist  Church,  Roches- 
ter; that  of  1836  at  Bridgeport,  Connecticut,  resulting  in  an 
invitation  to  settle ;  and  that  of  1838  with  the  First  Baptist 
Church  in  Detroit,  where  lifelong  friendships  were  formed. 
His  eight  years  at  Hamilton,  in  companionship  with  such 
students  as  E.  E.  L.  Taylor,  afterwards  secretary  of  the 
Home  Mission  Society;  the  evangelists  Jacob  Knapp  and 
Jabez  Swan  ;  and  the  missionary  Vinton,  brought  him  into 
sympathy  with  all  kinds  of  men  and  all  departments  of 
Christian  enterprise.  Home  missions,  foreign  missions,  and 
evangelism  were  equally  dear  to  him  ever  afterward.  His 
student  note-books  show  a  familiarity  with  Latin,  Greek,  and 
Hebrew ;  but  the  pressing  claims  of  pastoral  work  prevented 
the  fulfilment  of  the  bright  promise  of  his  earlier  years  in 
the  field  of  ancient  languages.  He  did  not  abandon  literary 
studies,  but  they  were  chiefly  concerned  with  modern  reforms  ; 
and  the  productions  of  his  pen  were  devoted  to  practical 
rather  than  speculative  theology.  His  ideal  was  found  in 
Andrew  Fuller  and  Spencer  H.  Cone,  rather  than  in  John 
Foster  or  William  B.  Williams.  Contrasting  these  men,  he 
said,  "  Some  men  of  marked  individuality  work  in  compara- 
tive isolation  from  the  pursuits  of  others.  They  are  like  a 
rivulet  that,  avoiding  the  broad  river,  seeks  in  its  own  new 
channel  its  way  to  the  sea.  But  the  lives  of  most  men  are 
blended,  and  almost  lose  their  identity  in  the  social  achieve- 
ments, pursuits,  and  progress  of  an  age.     Foster's  life  was 


THE    YEARS   OP   PREPARATION.  13 

more  isolated  and  independent.  Fuller's  blended  with  the 
church  activities,  methods,  and  missionary  enterprises  of  the 
denomination.  His  life  thrilled  and  wrought  in  them  all. 
There  is  no  motive  for  extolling  one  at  the  expense  of  the 
other.  They  represent  two  different  and  complemental  forms 
of  power.  So  Dr.  W.  E.  Williams  has  co-operated  far  less 
in  the  general  activities  of  the  Baptist  denomination  than 
Dr.  S.  H.  Cone.  It  were  needlessly  invidious  to  assert  that 
Dr.  Williams  has  exerted  more  influence  on  the  age  than  Dr. 
Cone.  Dr.  Cone's  life  still  palpitates  most  vigorously  in  the 
heart  of  the  denomination,  through  leading  men,  preachers, 
and  churches,  and  by  the  spread  of  Baptist  principles.  The 
man  who  formulates  theologies,  and  defends  them  with  mas- 
terly logic,  has  his  sphere  in  the  ministry  of  the  church ;  but 
one  apprehending  the  possibilities  and  needs  of  the  churches 
in  various  activities,  may  contribute  no  less  spiritual  force 
to  the  progress  of  Christianity.  His  quicker  sympathies,  his 
wiser  intuitions,  his  more  self-sacrificing  benevolence,  his  en- 
thusiastic enterprise,  may  contribute  more  to  denominational 
growth  than  the  special  studies  of  the  isolated  worker." 


14  THE    LIFE   OF   REV.  AV.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 


CHAPTER     11. 

IN    THE   FLUSH   OF   MANHOOD. 

While  Mr.  Everts  was  finishing  bis  course  of  study  at 
the  seminary,  Baptist  aiFairs  in  New  York  City  were  near- 
ing  a  crisis.  The  Mulberry  Street  Church  bad  lost,  in  1836, 
its  first  and  only  pastor,  Dr.  Maclay,  and  was  speedily  reduced 
to  the  necessity  of  letting  its  great  edifice  go  under  the  ham- 
mer. This  was  Deacon  William  Colgate's  opportunity  to 
establish  a  church  in  favor  of  three  days'  meetings,  anxious 
seats,  and  other  revival  measures, — the  new  methods, — of 
which  he  had  heard  such  glowing  reports  at  his  annual  visits 
to  Hamilton.  The  old  Calvinism  was  so  strongly  entrenched 
in  the  New  York  City  pulpits  at  that  time,  that  it  was  neces- 
sary to  establish  a  new  church,  if  the  new  methods  were  to 
be  tried.  Deacon  Colgate  was  followed  by  a  score  or  more 
who  sympathized  with  his  views,  from  Oliver  Street  by  a 
struggling  band  known  as  the  West  Church,  of  which  Dr. 
Dowling  had  been  pastor,  and  by  the  survivors  of  Dr.  Maclay's 
charge ;  and  all  together  formed  what  became  known  as  the 
Tabernacle  Church. 

The  Mulberry  Street  property  was  bought.  The  seats 
were  all  made  free.  Then  the  question  arose,  What  strong 
preacher,  with  no  assured  income  from  pew  rentals,  will  accept 
a  call.  On  Commencement  Sunday  of  the  year  1839,  Mr. 
Colgate  and  Deacon  Houghton  made  arrangements  to  hear 
Mr.  Everts  preach  at  Hamilton,  and  so  well  were  they  pleased 
with  the  matter  and  spirit  of  the  discourse,  that  they  urged 


IN    THE   FLUSH   OF   MANHOOD.  15 

him  to  visit  New  York  City,  and  look  over  the  new  field,  with 
a  view  to  settlement.  With  great  fear  and  misgiving,  and 
with  much  pain  at  the  thought  at  leaving  his  growing  con- 
gregation at  Earlville,  the  invitation  was  accepted.  The  visit 
led  to  an  immediate  call.  "  If  I  had  any  ambition,  I  think 
my  prudence  repressed  it,  and  I  was  averse  to  so  responsible 
a  settlement."  However,  with  tears  in  his  eyes  he  yielded  to 
their  entreaties.  The  acceptance  of  the  call  led  to  several 
happy  results.  A  debt  of  seven  hundred  dollars,  which  he 
had  incurred  at  school,  was  assumed  by  the  church.  His 
marriage  with  Miss  Maria  Wyckofi",  sister  of  W.  H.  WyckoflP, 
D.D.,  was  celebrated. 

He  became,  according  to  the  testimony  of  Dr.  W.  H. 
Parmley,  who  was  then  just  entering  Columbia  College, 
"  decidedly  the  most  popular  young  Baptist  preacher  of  the 
time." 

The  union  of  pastor  and  people  was  sealed  by  the  Holy 
Spirit.  Elder  Knapp  was  expected  in  February,  and  fre- 
quent baptisms  indicated  that  the  church  was  ready  for  his 
coming.  The  great  meeting-house  was  filled  for  months 
before  the  Evangelist  arrived,  and  the  heterogeneous  elements 
of  which  the  church  was  composed  had  been  fused  by  the 
baptism  of  fire  into  perfect  harmony.  The  day  he  came  nine 
persons  were  baptized  in  the  morning,  and  twenty  received 
the  right  hand  of  fellowship  in  the  afternoon.  Dr.  Knapp's 
first  sermon,  which  was  on  "  Lukewarmness,"  led  to  still 
deeper  heart-searching.  Deacon  Colgate  left  his  great  business 
to  other  men's  care,  and  attended  the  services  night  and  day 
for  nine  weeks.  The  church  responded  to  the  work  as  one 
man.  The  New  York  Herald  widely  advertised  the  re- 
vival by  its  sensational  accounts  of  the  services,  and  its 
wood-cuts  caricaturing  the  baptisms  at  the  river.  The  Mul- 
berry Street  meetings  became  the  talk  of  the  day.     It  was 


16  THE    LIFE    OF   REV.  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 

the  news-boys'  cry.  People  who  never  went  to  church 
became  curious ;  drunkards,  gamblers,  and  harlots  heard  of 
it.  The  aisles,  windows,  and  corridor  of  the  church  were 
packed  with  people.  Never  was  Elder  Knapp  mightier  in 
the  pulpit.  Night  after  night  the  church  remained  in  ses- 
sion, to  examine  candidates  for  baptism  as  they  were  sent 
down  from  the  inquiry  room.  The  new-born  souls  gathered 
at  the  river  like  a  flock  of  doves.  One  day  ninety-six,  and 
another  one  hundred  and  fifty, — altogether  four  hundred  con- 
verts,— were  baptized  by  the  pastor  and  the  Evangelist.  Two 
hundred  of  them,  standing  down  the  aisles  and  around  the 
walls  of  the  church,  received  the  right  hand  of  fellowship  at 
one  time.  It  was  estimated  that  two  thousand  persons  were 
converted.  "  This  introduced,"  says  Dr.  Parmley,  "  an  era 
of  prosperity  unknown  before." 

As  at  the  Exodus  from  Egypt,  the  redeemed  people  were  a 
mixed  multitude.  Some  were  snatched  as  brands  from  the 
burning,  recovered  from  depths  of  degradation ;  others  were 
leading  merchants  and  lawyers.  A  company  of  twelve  were 
sent  to  Hamilton  to  study,  among  them  those  bearing  the 
familiar  names  of  Professor  Harvey  of  Hamilton,  Rev.  J.  S. 
Dickerson,  of  Pittsburg,  and  Professor  M.  K.  Forey,  of  Chi- 
cago. These  students  maintained  for  some  time  what  was 
called  a  "  Tabernacle"  prayer-meeting  among  themselves.  A 
series  of  class-meetings  was  established  in  different  parts  of 
New  York  City,  to  guard  and  instruct  the  new  converts, 
who  were  so  carefully  nurtured  that  the  fears  that  many 
would  fall  away  proved  groundless. 

On  the  departure  of  the  Evangelist,  the  church  redoubled 
its  efforts,  and  its  numbers  continued  to  multiply,  so  that,  at 
the  end  of  three  years'  service,  the  young  pastor  could  re- 
port the  almost  unparalleled  net  gain  of  six  hundred  mem- 
bers.    "  It  was  no  particular  talent  of  mine,  but  the  favor- 


IN   THE   FLUSH   OF   MANHOOD.  17 

able  juncture  and  circumstances,"  he  said,  "  that  account  for 
this  great  ingathering,"  In  after-years,  whenever  he  preached 
in  a  church  in  or  near  New  York  City  he  was  sure  to  be 
greeted  by  some  one  from  the  Tabernacle.  J.  M.  Davis,  of 
Newark,  who  gave  twenty-five  thousand  dollars  to  Rochester 
University,  and  Mrs.  Bertine,  the  founder  of  the  church  at 
Babylon,  L.  I.,  and  William  Phelps,  of  New  York,  were  fruits 
of  the  great  revival. 

The  spirit,  aim,  and  motive  of  the  first  pastor  of  the 
Tabernacle  Church  are  reflected  in  a  letter  he  wrote  soon  after 
reaching  the  city  to  his  younger  brother  Samuel :  "  I  always 
expect  to  be  wholly  occupied.  It  seems  somehow  inherent  in 
my  nature  to  be  in  a  hurry.  You  should  never  aim  lower 
than  at  the  highest  point  of  excellence  in  whatever  you  en- 
gage. There  is  no  eminence  to  be  gained  without  high  aim, 
high  resolve,  and  strong  persevering  effort.  As  you  bear  the 
given  name  of  dear  father,  you  should  honor  his  memory. 
Consider  nothing  prosperity  in  which  you  cannot  acknowl- 
edge the  Lord,  and  which  you  will  not  be  willing  to  meet  in 
the  judgment." 

Though  Mr.  Everts  was  now  twenty-five  years  old,  he  was 
known,  on  account  of  his  flaxen  hair,  rosy  cheeks,  and  youth- 
ful appearance,  as  "  the  boy-preacher."  Free  from  the  tram- 
mels of  form  or  manuscript,  he  appeared  before  his  hearers 
with  a  flaming  desire  to  impart  to  them  his  convictions.  In- 
tense enthusiasm  characterized  his  delivery.  He  honored  the 
humblest  occasion  by  careful  written  preparation.  Under  the 
instruction  of  a  famous  elocutionist,  named  White,  he  acquired 
an  impressive  style  of  reading  the  Scriptures  and  hymns, 
and  in  gesture  a  self-command  that  seldom  forsook  him.  No 
audience  ever  heard  him  without  feeling  that  there  was  some- 
thing which  he  thought  they  ought  to  hear.  He  was  never 
like  Whately's  preacher,  who  had  to  say  something,  but  he 

2 


18  THE   LIFE   OP   REV.  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 

always  had  something  to  say.  Mr.  J,  M.  Vanderlip,  who 
became  acquainted  with  him  in  New  York,  writes :  "  I  was 
then  impressed  by  his  extraordinary  mental  force,  combined 
with  sweetness  and  simplicity.  Indeed,  I  never  met  a  man 
more  rousing  and  compelling  in  his  private  preaching.  He 
was  preaching  constantly,  and  his  conversational  was  better 
than  his  pulpit  oratory." 

Such  a  preacher  is  always  in  demand,  and  the  week-days 
were  full  of  sermons  to  churches,  and  addresses ;  as,  at  the 
anniversary  of  the  City  Tract  Society,  at  the  laying  of  the 
corner-stone  of  the  Pierpont  Street  Church,  Brooklyn,  and 
that  of  the  Home  for  the  Friendless  in  New  York.  Every 
Christian  enterprise  in  the  city  awakened  his  interest,  but  his 
special  attention  was  given  to  church  extension.  He  offered 
what  afterwards  became  known  as  "  the  Everts'  Resolutions," 
at  a  meeting  of  the  Hudson  Kiver  Association,  advocating 
the  purchase  of  sites  one  mile  apart,  on  the  east  and  west 
sides  of  Manhattan  Island,  to  be  used  in  the  future  for 
church  buildings.  He  observed  the  rapid  movement  of  the 
population  up-town,  and  when  a  fine  church  building  in  that 
direction  on  St.  John's  Park  was  for  sale,  he  urged  the 
Tabernacle  Church  to  buy  it.  It  was  the  Laight  Street  Pres- 
byterian Church,  built  for  Dr.  Samuel  Hanson  Cox,  where  the 
abolition  riot  occurred.  There  seemed  to  be  a  readiness  to  pur- 
chase, on  condition  that  the  Tabernacle  Church  would  sur- 
render its  pastor  for  the  new  enterprise.  At  this  the  church 
demurred,  and  offered  considerable  increase  of  salary  to  in- 
duce the  pastor  to  remain.  But  the  opening  seemed  provi- 
dential, and  leaving  a  church  with  nine  hundred  members  for 
one  with  seventy-four,  Mr.  Everts  became  the  first  pastor  of 
the  Laight  Street  Church,  as  he  had  been  of  the  Tabernacle, 
and  preached  in  a  building  obtained  by  contributions  which 
he  himself  had  solicited.     This  apparently  hazardous  change 


IN    THE   PLUSH    OF   MANHOOD.  19 

proved  to  be  one  of  God's  plans,  for  a  continuous  revival 
added  to  the  church  as  many  as  seventy  members  a  year,  for 
the  eight  years  of  his  pastorate.  In  18-48  the  church  re- 
ported four  hundred  members.  "  It  was,  perhaps,  among  the 
most  popular  resorts  for  Baptist  crowds  of  evening  worship- 
pers in  New  York  City,"  writes  Dr.  Parmley.  During  this 
pastorate  Miss  Margaret  Keen  Burtis  was  brought  from 
Philadelphia  to  assume  the  responsibilities  of  the  minister's 
wife. 

Arduous  as  were  his  pastoral  duties,  his  exuberant  energies 
responded  to  his  inventive  mind ;  and  lo !  in  quick  succession 
appear  "  Tracts  for  Cities  ,"  prepared  with  the  co-operation  of 
G.  B.  Cheever,  Wm.  Hague,  G.  W.  Anderson,  and  J.  W. 
Alexander ;  the  "  Scripture  School  Reader,"  designed  to  meet 
the  objections  of  Romanists  to  the  use  of  the  Bible  in  the 
public  schools ;  "  Life  and  Thoughts  of  John  Foster,"  fre- 
quently republished  extracts  from  writings  which  had  more 
influence  upon  him  than  any  others  ;  and  "  The  Pastor's  Hand- 
Book,"  new  editions  of  which  are  still  in  demand.  Another 
scheme,  interrupted  by  failing  health,  was  the  preparation  of 
a  people's  plain  commentary  on  the  whole  Bible. 

Incessant  labors  gradually  undermined  his  constitution. 

"As  the  silk-worm  spins  from  its  own  being  the  tissue 
that  is  interwoven  in  beautiful  fabrics  to  shelter  and  adorn 
the  life  of  other  beings,  so  the  minister  of  God  exhausts  his 
own  being,  and  weaves  the  garments  of  salvation,  for  others, 
from  the  failing  energies  of  his  own  nature."  With  such 
sentiments  he  toiled  in  the  metropolis.  When  he  first  came 
there,  he  used  to  complain  of  himself  because  he  could  not 
imitate  Dr.  Wm.  R.  Williams,  who  frequently  spent  all  night 
in  study ;  nevertheless  his  prodigal  expenditure  of  nervous 
energy  for  ten  years  led  to  complete  exhaustion.  Buoyancy 
of  spirit,  interest  in  passing  events,  power  of  concentration, 


20  THE   LIFE   OF   REV.  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 

ability  to  sleep  were  gone.  After  a  year's  rest,  mental  exer- 
tion was  accompanied  by  the  dreaded  symptoms  that  had 
threatened  to  end  his  public  career.  Accordingly,  he  resigned 
his  pastorate  in  the  fall  of  1850. 

How  warmly  attached  the  Laight  Street  Church  were  to  their 
founder,  appeared  in  their  generosity  in  sending  him  to 
Europe ;  and,  in  after-years,  they  urged  him  to  renew  the  old 
relation.  "  Your  return  would  be  a  solution  of  the  entire 
enigma,  and  a  consummation  which  all  desire.  It  is  our  first 
choice  as  well  as,  it  appears  to  the  minds  of  some,  the  last 
necessity  of  the  Old  Colony." 

He  accepted  an  urgent  request  to  preach  the  "  farewell " 
sermon  in  the  old  house  on  October  23,  1870.  As  he 
rode  by  the  closed  meeting-house  he  said  to  his  old  friend, 
Allen  Freeman :  "  This  house  ougrht  never  to  be  sold.  It 
ought  to  remain  in  the  denomination.  Do  all  you  can  as  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  City  Missions  to  save  it."  Three 
years  later,  on  October  9, 1873,  Mr.  Freeman  writes :  "  I  now 
have  the  pleasure  of  telling  you  that  the  Union  have  pur- 
chased the  property  for  the  use  of  the  First  Baptist  Mission 
Church." 

Meantime,  on  September  26, 1870,  the  Laight  Street  Church 
had  bought  the  heavily  mortgaged  property  of  the  Central 
Baptist  Church  on  Forty-second  Street,  which  had  been  occu- 
pied by  the  survivors  of  the  old  Bloomingdale  Church  after 
the  secession  of  the  short-lived  Plymouth  Church.  The  old 
Laight  Street  property  has  since  been  sold  by  the  City  Mission 
Board,  and  the  proceeds,  fifty  thousand  dollars,  have  been  re- 
invested in  an  up-town  enterprise.  Thus  the  timely  purchase 
made  in  1842  has  not  only  led  to  an  honorable  history  on  the 
spot,  but  has  also  furnished  the  means  for  the  rescue  or  estab- 
lishment of  two  other  church  enterprises.  It  is  a  saying  of 
Lord  Bacon  that  the  founders  of  institutions  are  the  greatest 


IN   THE   FLUSH   OP    MANHOOD.  21 

of  mankind.  A  founder  of  such  an  institution  as  Laiglit 
Street  Church,  Mr.  Everts  wrought  himself  into  the  fabric  of 
Baptist  history  in  New  York  City. 

The  conference  of  Baptist  pastors  admired  his  spirit 
and  expressed  the  hope,  when  he  left  the  city,  "  that  his  far- 
reaching  plans  for  the  welfare  of  the  churches  and  the  world 
may  receive  the  divine  blessing,  and  that  he  may  be  spared  to 
see  them  accomplished."  This  refers  not  only  to  what  he  had 
accomplished  in  the  city,  but  also  to  plans  he  had  laid  before 
the  State  Convention  and  the  Board  of  the  Home  Mission 
Society.  The  former  body  was  urged  to  appoint  an  agent  for 
the  city  of  New  York,  to  have  charge  of  "  missionary  explo- 
ration and  enlargement."  On  the  records  of  the  executive 
committee  of  the  Home  Mission  Society,  of  which  Mr.  Everts 
had  been  a  member  since  1840,  is  found,  under  date  of  Octo- 
ber 31, 1850,  the  following  minute  :  "  The  subject  of  devising 
a  plan  for  aiding  feeble  churches  in  building  meeting-houses, 
either  by  the  formation  of  a  new  society,  or  by  some  other 
means,  was  introduced  by  brother  W.  W.  Everts,  and  referred 
to  a  committee  of  three,  consisting  of  S.  H.  Cone,  A.  B.  Cap- 
well  and  D.  C.  Eddy."  Thus  originated  what  became  known 
as  the  church  edifice  department  of  that  society. 

Though  urged  to  accept  the  pastorate  of  the  First  Baptist 
Church  in  Baltimore,  and  the  First  in  Rochester,  he  had  to 
content  himself  for  the  present  with  a  smaller  field  of  labor, 
and  he  settled  at  Wheatland,  not  far  from  Sweden,  where  he 
was  converted.  The  church  was  well-to-do,  a  generous  sup- 
porter of  Rochester  University,  and  drew  its  members  from 
all  the  country  around.  Settling  in  December,  1850,  he 
found  that  his  duties  in  the  extensive  parish  required  con- 
stant sleigh-riding.  In  summer  there  was  a  garden  to  cul- 
tivate. As  he  was  under  no  pressure  for  new  preparations  for 
the  pulpit,  and  was  free  from  calls  to  lecture,  the  naturally 


22  THE   LIFE   OF   REV.  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 

strong  constitution  of  Mr.  Everts  during  this  out-door  life 
steadily  recovered  its  tone.  Sleep,  appetite,  vigor  returned. 
Not  satisfied  with  a  growing  congregation,  so  long  as  it  con- 
sisted only  of  those  who  could  afford  to  ride,  the  thoughtful 
pastor  proposed  to  give  one  service  a  day  to  Clifton,  Church- 
ville,  or  Mumford,  villages  lying  from  three  to  six  miles  away. 
As  this  proposition  was  not  favorably  received,  a  student  from 
Rochester  was  secured  to  man  the  out-stations.  In  a  short 
time  Mr.  Everts  came  to  the  conclusion  that  the  future  be- 
longed to  these  villages  rather  than  to  Wheatland,  where 
there  was  no  post-office,  hotel,  store,  or  street.  Within  two 
years,  in  the  face  of  considerable  opposition  at  Wheatland, 
three  churches  were  organized  and  three  neat  meeting-houses 
built.  More  than  two  thousand  dollars  was  required  for  each, 
and  money  was  raised  by  the  pastor  himself,  or  in  consequence 
of  the  incentives  he  urged.  At  Mumford,  a  revival  prepared 
the  way  with  forty  converts,  one  of  whom  became  a  pastor  in 
Michigan.  All  three  churches  are  self-supporting  to-day, 
with  houses  and  parsonages  free  from  debt.  If  the  three  vil- 
lages had  not  been  occupied,  the  grand  old  mother-church 
might  have  disappeared  without  leaving  a  trace  behind  her. 
As  it  was,  each  of  the  three  offshoots  became  almost  equal  in 
size  to  the  parent  stock. 

July  1,  1852,  when  these  three  enterprises  were  just 
fairly  under  way,  the  clerk  of  the  First  Baptist  Church  in 
Chicago  wrote  to  Mr.  Everts,  urging  him  to  ''  extend  the 
blessed  influences  of  the  gospel  over  this  great  though  wicked 
city.  Eighty  were  added  to  the  church  under  the  labors  of 
Elder  Knapp  the  past  winter,  and  we  now  number  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty.  We  have  been  destitute  of  a  pastor  since  the 
resignation  of  Rev.  Elisha  Tucker.  We  would  like  to  have 
you  visit  us  with  a  view  to  settlement.  We  will  pay  the 
expenses   of  your   removal,  and   a   salary  of  one  thousand 


IN   THE   FLUSH   OF   MANHOOD.  23 

dollars,  which  will  undoubtedly  be  increased  early  in  the 
future.  Our  city  numbers  about  forty-two  thousand  inhabitants, 
and  is  destined  to  take  the  front  rank  in  the  cities  of  the 
West.  It  is  calculated  we  will  number  one  hundred  thousand 
within  ten  years.  It  seems  to  me  that  no  place  in  the  United 
States  presents  so  important  a  field  as  this.  From  its  geo- 
graphical position,  it  must  soon  become  the  heart  of  the 
West,  the  arterial  passages  being  rapidly  constructed  east, 
west,  north,  and  south,  in  the  shape  of  railroads.  It  is  a 
healthy  place.  We  are  about  to  light  our  house  with  gas, 
and  about  putting  in  furnaces  to  warm  it  with  hot  air." 

The  reply  to  this  letter  contained  the  remark,  that  "  exist- 
ing engagements  would  prevent  my  leaving  for  several  weeks." 
But  the  church  replied,  "  Although  we  are  in  great  need  of 
a  pastor,  still  we  would  wait  your  convenience,  so  that  the 
embarrassment  on  that  point  may  be  considered  settled." 
Another  remark  in  the  letter  from  Wheatland,  "  I  feel  a 
delicacy  in  taking  any  public  step  contemplating  a  new  settle- 
ment in  the  pastorate,  where  there  is  not  considerable  ante- 
rior probability  of  consummating,"  was  understood  to  be 
an  objection  to  candidating,  and,  as  such,  was  obviated  by  the 
ofi'er  to  rescind  the  church  rule  to  hear  before  electing  a 
pastor.  But  Mrs.  Everts  explained  the  remark  to  her 
brother  in  Chicago,  as  follows  :  "  In  looking  over  his  present 
field,  my  husband  feels  that  he  could  not  leave  for  months  to 
come,  and  how  many  Providence  only  can  determine,  without 
jeopardizing  the  cause  in  two  villages  where  meeting-houses 
are  at  present  in  process  of  erection.  This  would  prevent 
his  changing  for  the  present,  however  desirable  the  place 
might  be.  He  could  not  consent  to  visit  the  Chicago  church, 
unless  his  mind  was  pretty  well  made  up  to  accept  the  call  if 
given.  He  does  not  consider  it  fair  dealing  to  act  otherwise." 
Thus  the  Wheatland  pulpit  was  retained  for  the  sake  of  the 


24  THE   LIFE   OP  REV.  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 

two  out-stations,  though   there  was   a  growing  jealousy  of 
their  prosperity. 

The  pastor's  plan  was  to  have  one  church,  with  three  places 
of  meeting,  and  three  services  each  Sunday, — all  candidates 
for  baptism  to  be  received  at  Wheatland ;  but,  as  this  plan 
was  rejected,  letters  were  asked,  so  that  at  Clifton  and  Mum- 
ford  independent  Baptist  churches  of  fifty  and  thirty  consti- 
tuent members  were  duly  organized,  and  recognized  by 
Council.  The  approval  of  the  Council  had  been  anticipated 
by  the  following  vote  of  the  Association,  in  February  of  the 
same  year  :  "  Resolved,  That,  in  the  opinion  of  the  committee, 
the  measures  recently  adopted  by  Brother  W.  W.  Everts 
upon  the  field  of  his  own  pastoral  labor  are  highly  important 
in  their  bearing  upon  the  general  objects  proposed  in  our 
present  organization ;  that  we  pledge  to  Brother  Everts  our 
cordial  fellowship  in  the  work,  and  assure  him  of  our  con- 
fidence in  the  wisdom  of  the  steps  so  far  taken."  Contribu- 
tions for  the  two  meeting-houses  came  in  with  surprising 
liberality.  The  opposition  at  the  centre  made  the  grateful 
appreciation  of  his  labors  on  the  new  fields  most  welcome. 
They  had  been  redeemed  by  him  from  Sabbath-breaking,  tip- 
pling, and  other  vices.  The  new  houses  were  filled  with  the 
divine  spirit,  and  at  Clifton  eighty  converts  were  added  within 
a  year.  The  parting  with  Mumford  was  most  afi"ecting. 
This  was  the  "  little  flock,"  and  called  out  his  tender  affec- 
tion. Not  satisfied  with  securing  funds  sufficient  to  pay  for  a 
church,  he  felt  the  importance  of  adding  a  lecture-room,  and, 
when  it  was  proposed  to  have  a  donation  party,  resolved  to 
contribute  to  the  building  of  the  room  all  the  cash  he  should 
receive.  This  awakened  an  interest  in  the  project  in  the 
minds  of  some  Episcopalian  gentlemen,  who,  in  recognition 
of  the  benefit  he  had  conferred  upon  the  neighborhood,  made 
up  a  purse  for  him  of  one  hundred  dollars, — just  the  amount 


IN   THE   FLUSH    OF    MANHOOD.  25 

of  his  contribution .  Meanwhile  he  had  accepted  a  call  to 
Louisville,  Ky.  The  time  of  departure  was  postponed  one 
day,  that  the  ladies  might  give  a  "  social,"  with  a  charge  for 
admission.  Thus  sixty  dollars  more  were  added  to  the  fund, 
and  the  srift  was  announced  of  sofa  and  chairs  from  William 

O 

Phelps,  of  New  York.  Such  was  the  attachment  of  the 
churches  at  Clifton  and  Mumford  to  their  benefactor,  that  it 
almost  broke  his  heart  to  leave  them.  On  the  morning  when 
he  left  them  to  visit  Louisville,  Deacon  Hosmer  came  two 
miles  before  daylight  to  beg  him  to  give  up  going,  and,  but 
for  the  definite  promise  he  had  made,  he  would  have  been 
deterred. 


26  THE   LIFE   OP   REV.  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 


CHAPTER   III. 

LIFE   IN   KENTUCKY. 

The  following  letter  from  Dr.  S.  W.  Lind,  of  Covington, 
Ky.,  was  addressed  to  the  church  at  Wheatland  to  induce 
them  to  let  their  pastor  go :  "  Our  condition  in  the  West  is 
peculiar.  Our  population  is  rapidly  increasing  every  year, 
and  the  destitution  of  pastoral  labor  is  very  great.  We  are 
educating  but  few  men  for  the  ministry,  compared  with  the 
number  educated  in  the  East.  It  is  essential  to  the  welfiire  of 
our  whole  country,  that  the  strongest  moral  influence  should 
be  exerted  in  the  West.  We  must  for  a  time  look  to  the  East 
for  the  requisite  supply.  The  condition  of  the  Baptists  in 
Louisville  is  peculiar.  This  city  has  a  population  of  fifty 
thousand  souls,  and  not  a  single  Baptist  pastor.  It  is  exceed- 
ingly difficult  to  obtain  one  of  the  right  stamp,  and  the  church 
has  been  praying  and  seeking  a  suitable  pastor  for  about  two 
years.  They  have  heard  Brother  Everts,  and  have  given  him 
a  unanimous  call. 

"  The  Baptist  cause  is  greatly  suffering  there.  The  call, 
in  my  estimation,  is  one  that  will  scarcely  leave  Brother 
Everts  an  opportunity  to  decline  it ;  and,  should  it  be  im- 
pressed upon  his  mind  that  it  is  his  duty  to  accept,  provided 
he  can  leave  his  present  field  satisfactorily,  I  hope  you,  my 
brethren,  will  kindly  remember  our  necessities  in  this  region, 
the  peculiar  circumstances  of  the  church  in'  Louisville,  and 
the  large  field  of  usefulness  that  it  will  open  to  him  whom 
you  love  as  your  pastor.     As  I  remarked  before,  this  church 


LIFE    IN   KENTUCKY.  27 

has  been  without  a  pastor  for  about  two  years,  and,  should 
they  fail  in  their  efforts  to  secure  the  services  of  Brother 
Everts,  may  remain  in  this  state  for  a  long  time  to  come.  If 
I  appear  to  be  urgent  in  the  case,  I  think  it  is  to  be  ascribed 
to  my  deep  interest  in  the  cause  of  Christ  in  the  great  valley." 
About  the  same  time,  J.  L.  Waller  urged  the  pastor-elect 
to  accept  the  call.  "  In  all  candor,  I  give  it  as  my  emphatic 
opinion,  after  a  long  and  careful  examination  of  the  whole 
field,  that  that  is  the  most  important  point  in  the  whole  Mis- 
sissippi Valley.  Louisville  is  the  emporium  of  the  greatest 
Baptist  State  in  the  world.  Kentucky  has  a  larger  actual 
membership  in  the  Baptist  churches,  according  to  population, 
than  any  other  community  on  the  globe.  And  then  the  wealth 
of  the  State  is  in  the  hands  of  the  Baptists.  Louisville  has 
the  Board  of  the  Indian  Mission  Association,  and  of  the  Bible 
Kevision  Association,  and  the  leading  weekly  paper  of  the 
West,  and  the  only  monthly  periodical.  We  need  a  point  of 
central  influence  in  the  great  valley.  The  valley  States  will 
soon  control  this  country  politically  and  religiously.  We  must 
concentrate  our  plan  of  action.  Where  can  this  be  done  so 
well  as  in  Louisville  ?  Kentucky,  religiously  and  politically, 
has  the  confidence  of  the  North  and  South  ;  she  is  esteemed 
the  most  conservative  State  in  the  Union.  Your  position  as 
pastor  of  the  Walnut  Street  Church  will  be  an  important, 
laborious,  and  responsible  one ;  but,  my  dear  brother,  you  will 
have  the  prayers  of  thousands  of  your  brethren  for  your  suc- 
cess. The  ministers  and  churches  throughout  the  State,  I 
am  sure,  will  greet  you  with  a  warmth  of  cordiality  worthy 
of  Kentucky.  I  assure  you,  no  man  could  come  among  us 
with  a  better  impression  in  his  favor  than  yourself.  I  have 
written  thus  far  simply  as  a  friend  of  our  common  cause.  I 
need  scarcely  add  that,  personally,  I  am  anxious  that  you 
should  accept  the  call.     Your  views  and  mine  on  all  the  lead- 


28  THE   LIFE   OF   REV-  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 

ing  denominational  questions  are  alike.  I  like  you  as  a  man, 
and  love  you  as  a  minister.  You  are  the  sort  of  person  I 
feel  sure  I  can  work  with  and  sympathize  with.  I  pledge 
you  my  heart  and  hand.     Yours  fraternally  and  affectionately, 

"  John  L.  Waller." 

On  January  2,  1853,  a  leading  member  of  the  Walnut 
Street  Church,  Dr.  William  B.  Caldwell,  writes :  "  Yours 
received,  and  we  feel  to  breathe  easy  now,  for  we  not  only 
have  a  pastor,  but  a  day  fixed  when  he  will  commence  his 
labors  with  us.  Suspense  and  uncertainty  to  a  people  already 
out  of  patience  are  insufferable  ;  hence  the  earnest  appeal  I 
made  to  have  a  definite  time.  But  there  are  many  urgent 
reasons  why  you  should  shorten  the  time  as  much  as  possible. 
It  is  unnecessary  to  enumerate  reasons ;  the  general  down- 
ward tendency  of  everything  cries  aloud  for  you  to  shorten 
that  time  as  much  as  possible.  It  is  impossible  to  express  in 
a  letter  the  many  reasons  why  you  should  come  here  imme- 
diately ;  but,  when  you  have  been  here  a  month,  you  will  feel 
perfectly  astonished  at  yourself  for  not  having  seen  it  sooner. 
Our  little  girl  often  speaks  of  you.  As  we  were  going  to 
supper  to-night,  she  said,  '  Ma,  I  haven't  seen  Mr.  Everts  for 
two  or  three  days.'  Say  to  Mrs.  Everts,  we  have  a  healthy 
and  pleasant  city,  and  that  many  warm  hearts  are  ready  to  re- 
ceive her  into  the  fellowship  of  their  homes  and  the  church. 
We  have  no  strangers  here.  Mrs.  Caldwell  joins  me  in  most 
cordial  Christian  love  and  prayers  for  yourself  and  family. 
Write  soon,  and  express  freely  any  wish  or  feeling  that  may 
suggest  itself  touching  our  or  your  interest.  Affectionately 
your  brother  in  Christ."  Louisville  was  so  urgent  in  its  call, 
that  a  deaf  ear  was  turned  to  Baltimore,  which  sought  cor- 
respondence almost  simultaneously. 

In  February,  1853,  Mr.  Everts  began  his  life  at  Louisville. 


LIFE    IN   KENTUCKY.  29 

In  a  book  on  Louisville,  from  the  pen  of  Ben  Cassedy,  that 
appeared  in  1852,  a  good  impression  is  given  of  the  commu- 
nity. A  great  business  was  being  done,  and  yet  a  stranger 
would  not  have  observed  the  signs  of  its  great  prosperity,  so 
quietly  was  everything  done.  In  twelve  years  the  population 
had  increased  from  twenty-one  thousand  two  hundred  and 
ten  to  fifty-one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  twenty-six. 
"  There  are  certain  traits  in  the  Kentucky  character  which 
are  everywhere  spoken  of  with  approbation.  A  manly  inde- 
pendence, a  generous  frankness,  and  a  careless  but  attractive 
freedom  of  manner,  united  with  unbounded  hospitality  and 
that  true  politeness  and  deference  which  proceed  rather  from 
a  natural  instinct  than  from  a  knowledge  of  the  rules  of  eti- 
quette, constitute  the  Kentuckian's  chivalry.  It  is  equally 
far  removed  from  the  suspicious  reserve  of  the  Yankee  and  the 
foppish  pretence  of  the  Southerner.  North,  South,  and  East 
soon  become  integral  parts  ot  one  great  circle  in  Kentucky." 
In  1852  the  Baptist  denomination  in  Kentucky  was  still 
profoundly  agitated  by  the  so-called  "  reformation"  begun  by 
Alexander  Campbell,  which  drew  most  of  its  strength  from 
Baptist  ranks.  Another  question  of  the  day  concerned  the 
revision  of  the  English  New  Testament,  as  undertaken  by  the 
American  Bible  Union  of  New  York.  This  question  was  in- 
volved with  the  preceding  one,  because  the  Beformers,  or 
Campbellites  as  they  were  then  called,  were  strong  advocates  of 
revision,  and  were  members  of  the  Board  of  the  Revision  As- 
sociation at  Louisville.  A  third  question  was  sectional.  In 
the  recent  influx  of  residents,  many  settlers  had  come  from  the 
North,  and  the  natives  were  somewhat  suspicious  of  Northern 
and  Eastern  ideas.  The  agitation  of  these  questions  had  dis- 
tracted the  Baptist  forces  in  the  city.  In  1831  those  Baptists 
who  had  joined  the  Reformers  were  given  by  the  courts  half- 
ownership  in   the  meeting-house.     The   half  was   of  little 


30  THE   LIFE   OF   EEV.  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 

value.  There  were  no  pews,  but  only  wooden  seats,  some 
with  and  some  without  backs.  Elder  John  L.  Wilson  suc- 
ceeded in  purchasing  the  claim  of  the  Reformers  and  re- 
modelling the  edifice,  but  the  first  service  in  the  newly-fur- 
nished structure  was  the  funeral  of  the  energetic  pastor. 
Under  the  next  pastor,  who  was  a  Virginian,  the  Northern 
element  in  the  church  became  restive,  and,  aided  by  the 
Home  Mission  Society  in  New  York,  went  off  in  1839  and 
formed  the  Second  Church.  At  length,  in  1849,  both  church 
pulpits  were  vacant,  and  both  sought  as  pastor  the  same  young 
man.  Rev.  Thomas  Smith,  son  of  a  wealthy  Kentuckian,  a 
graduate  of  Princeton.  Love  for  him  induced  both  churches 
to  unite  again  and  undertake  the  erection  of  a  worthy  build- 
ing on  the  finest  corner  in  the  city.  The  lecture-room  was 
soon  finished,  but  the  first  service  held  in  the  basement  of  the 
new  building  was  the  funeral  of  the  dearly-loved  pastor. 
"  Like  the  rose  plucked  with  the  dew  upon  its  petals,  he 
withered  and  passed  away."  Now  came  a  period  of  reaction 
and  discouragement.  For  two  years  a  vain  search  was  made 
for  a  pastor,  until,  through  Drs.  Elisha  Tucker  and  Thomas 
Armitage,  their  attention  was  directed  to  Wheatland.  Not- 
withstanding Mr.  Everts's  predilections  were  all  Northern, 
and  his  aversion  to  slavery  was  so  strong,  and  though  the  ties 
of  Clifton  and  Mumford  were  so  many,  yet  his  conscience 
was  so  pressed  there  was  no  happiness  with  any  decision 
except  to  go. 

When  he  arrived  at  Louisville,  he  found  nothing  encour- 
aging except  the  field.  The  building  was  standing  half  fin- 
ished. The  meetings  in  the  basement  were  reduced  to  an  at- 
tendance of  half  a  hundred.  Passers  by  wagged  their  heads, 
as  if  to  say,  "  They  have  built  a  tower  and  are  not  able  to 
finish  it."  As  Mr.  Arthur  Peter  says,  "  The  church  was  very 
low  indeed,  and  seemingly  retrograding,  if  that  were  possible. 


LIFE    IN   KENTUCKY.  31 

Strength  seemed  to  have  been  exhausted  and  the  end  not 
accomplished.  They  were  at  the  Red  Sea,  no  retreat,  and 
apparently  no  possibility  of  advancing.  At  this  crisis  Dr. 
Everts  was  sent  by  his  Master,  and  threw  himself  into  the 
work  with  all  his  great  energy  and  hopefulness,  and  the  Wal- 
nut Street  Church  became  strong  from  that  moment."  Large 
subscriptions,  amounting  to  fourteen  thousand  dollars,  were 
secured.  Those  who  had  fainted  were  revived.  The  public 
were  interested,  especially  at  the  suggestion  of  increasing  the 
length  of  the  structure  eighteen  feet,  making  the  entire 
length  one  hundred  and  thirty-eight  feet,  so  as  to  se- 
cure finer  proportions,  and  also  to  make  room  for  modern 
conveniences.  Those  who  had  predicted  failure  were  now,  on 
account  of  the  leader's  faith  and  energy,  filled  with  confidence. 
The  local  Baptist  paper  remarked :  "  Brother  Everts  has  no 
such  words  as  '  stand  still,'  or  '  it  can't  be  done,'  in  his  vocabu- 
lary. It  seems  to  be  a  maxim  with  him,  that  what  ought  to 
be  done  can  be  done,  and  must  be  done."  Within  a  year,  on 
the  third  Sabbath  of  January,  1854,  the  dedication  occurred. 
It  was  a  trying  hour.  The  architect  had  estimated  the  cost  at 
thirty-five  thousand  dollars,  but  he  died  with  nothing  but  the 
front  elevation  drawn.  Other  architects  increased  the  figures 
to  sixty  thousand  dollars ;  and,  after  heroic  efibrt  had  been 
made,  one  member  giving  a  tenth  of  his  property,  a  debt 
of  twenty  thousand  dollars  still  remained.  The  brethren 
met  for  consultation.  "What  shall  we  do?"  they  asked, 
with  anxious  looks.  "  The  debt,  the  whole  debt,  must 
be  paid  !"  was  the  inspiring  exhortation  of  the  pastor.  "  Let 
each  one  be  prepared  prayerfully  to  do  his  duty,  and  it  can 
be  done."  With  no  other  preparation,  the  service  of  dedica- 
tion was  held.  The  occasion  awakened  profound  interest  and 
enthusiasm.  Great  sacrifices  were  made ;  twelve  thousand 
dollars  was  pledged  on  the  spot,  and  within  ten  days  the  total 


32  THE   LIFE   OF   REV.  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 

debt  was  cancelled.  A  bell  was  presented  by  Mr.  James  E. 
Tyler,  and  soon  a  ten-tbousand-dollar  organ  completed  the 
furnisliing  of  the  finest  cathedral  in  the  Southwest. 

Advantage  was  taken  of  the  general  rejoicing  to  project  at 
once  other  enterprises.  A  Presbyterian  meeting-house,  on 
Jefferson  street  near  Seventh,  was  purchased  by  one  of  the 
deacons,  and  occupied  by  a  [colony  of  fifty  persons  from  the 
Walnut  Street  Church,  the  latter  pledging  part  of  the  pastor's 
salary.  Their  departure  was  celebrated  by  special  services. 
"  Dearly  as  I  have  loved  you,"  said  the  magnanimous  pastor, 
"I  love  you  more  since  you  have  given  such  proof  of 
your  devotion  to  your  Master."  Thus  were  laid  in  love  and 
self-denial  the  strong  foundations  of  the  present  Chestnut 
Street  Church. 

Dr.  Oncken's  visit  to  Louisville,  in  1S54,  in  behalf  of  the 
struggling  Baptists  in  Germany,  led  to  the  erection  and  estab- 
lishment free  of  debt  of  a  building  costing  nearly  five  thousand 
dollars,  with  accommodations  for  a  church  and  pastor  among 
the  Germans  of  Louisville.  In  addition  to  this  extension 
of  the  gospel  to  the  east,  a  lot  was  secured  at  Portland,  below 
the  falls,  three  and  a  half  miles  to  the  west,  and  a  building 
erected.  As  chairman  of  the  Board  of  General  Association, 
Mr.  Everts  secured  the  appointment  of  Elder  Shirley  to  this 
field,  and,  as  pastor  of  Walnut  Street  Church,  he  raised  his 
salary  and  launched  the  new  church  practically  out  of  debt. 
The  Jefferson  Street  Church,  under  the  care  of  Kev.  J.  V. 
Schofield,  soon  had  the  largest  Sunday-school  in  the  city.  At 
the  other  points,  the  growth,  though  less  marked,  was  steady. 

The  Walnut  Street  Church  experienced  the  truth  of  the 
proverb,  ''There  is  that  scattereth  and  yet  increaseth." 
Losses  were  more  than  made  good  by  constant  revivals.  In 
one  year  one  hundred  and  fifteen  were  added  to  the  church, 
with  a  total  of  four  hundred  and  eighty-five  in  six  years'  pas- 


LIFE   IN    KENTUCKY.  33 

torate.  The  congregation  became  the  largest  in  the  city.  At 
the  end  of  the  first  year,  insurance  for  ten  thousand  dollars  was 
taken  out  on  the  pastor's  life.  The  Louisville  triumph  attracted 
the  notice  of  the  trustees  of  Franklin  College,  Indiana,  who, 
by  the  hand  of  President  Silas  Bailey,  conferred  upon  the 
pastor  the  honorary  title  of  Doctor  of  Divinity.  It  commanded 
attention  throughout  the  State,  and  several  extensive  preach- 
ing tours  were  undertaken,  during  which  the  church  buildings 
at  Lebanon,  Taylorsville,  and  Campbellsburg  were  dedicated. 
His  parish  were  liberal  supporters  of  the  cause  of  Bible  re- 
vision, and  the  general  societies  contributed  five  thousand 
dollars  to  Georgetown  College,  and  raised  in  all  ten  thousand 
dollars  each  year. 

In  the  city  of  Louisville  the  popularity  of  the  pastor  of 
Walnut  Street  knew  no  bounds.  A  course  of  Sunday  even- 
ing sermons  was  repeated  during  the  week  to  the  young  people 
of  the  city.  When  a  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  was 
formed,  he  was  made  president,  and  a  constitution,  which  he 
had  prepared,  was  adopted. 

The  effect  produced  by  his  sermons  is  thus  described  in 
a  letter  from  Cincinnati,  dated  November  21, 1S5S  :  -'  I  never, 
till  last  evening  at  the  hall,  woke  up  to  the  excellence  of  our 
dear  Brother  Everts  as  a  speaker.  His  theme  was  '  The 
Mission  of  the  Church.'  He  was  full  of  zeal  and  of  the  Holy 
Ghost.  Judge  Storer  sat  entranced  with  his  effort,  and  all  for 
a  time  appeared  absorbed  in  the  subject.  One  gentleman  be- 
hind me  wept  freely,  and  said  aloud,  '  Amen.'  " 

The  following  appreciative  criticism  came  from  one  of  his 
regular  hearers :  "  Your  discourses  produce,  when  delivered, 
an  effect  it  is  impossible  to  describe, — they  often  hold  me 
spell-bound,  so  that  I  cannot  move  a  muscle  without  a  sense 
of  actual  suffering,  from  the  first  to  the  last  of  your  longest 
sermons.     The  cause  of  this  I  apprehend  to  be  in  the  hold 

3 


34  THE   LIFE   OF   REV.  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 

you  gain  upon  the  mind,  that  enables  you  to  engross  the 
thoughts  of  your  hearers  in  the  subject  you  present  to  them. 
I  will  venture  to  say  that  you  have  never  spoken  to  an  inat- 
tentive audience.  Is  this  not  true  ?  Now  this  is  precisely 
the  point  I  wish  to  call  your  attention  to :  how  do  you  gain 
this  undivided  attention  from  a  congregation  composed  of 
every  grade  and  variety  of  mind  ?  By  the  internal  force  of 
your  own  mind,  that  turns  with  irresistible  power  to  whatever 
channel  you  will  the  thought  of  your  auditors.  This 
power  lies  not  in  the  thoughts  themselves,  neither  in  the 
language  employed  to  convey  them,  but  dwells  within  your- 
self. It  is  the  assertion  of  conscious  power  in  the  tones  of 
the  voice  and  the  glance  of  the  eye." 

Among;  the  most  remarkable  incidents  of  Mr.  Everts's  life 
at  Louisville  was  the  conversion,  in  1856,  of  two  actors,  after- 
wards known  as  Rev.  Drs.  G.  C.  Lorimer  and  E.  F.  Strick- 
land. The  story  is  told  by  the  latter,  as  follows  :  "  John 
Bates  was  an  old  American  theatrical  manager,  who  was 
catering  histrionic  attractions  to  the  people  of  Cincinnati, 
Louisville,  and  St.  Louis.  Not  long  before.  Manager  Bates 
had  secured  an  engagement  with  a  young  English  eccentric 
comedian,  Edwin  Strickland,  with  his  wife.  Later,  a  young 
stripling  of  promise,  George  Lorimer,  was  engaged,  and  sailed 
for  America.  He  was  half- ship  wrecked,  and  was  obliged  to 
return,  to  attempt  again  the  passage.  In  the  course  of  time 
these  two  young  actors  found  themselves  in  the  same  com- 
pany, and  billed  for  an  engagement  at  Louisville,  where,  in- 
stead of  appearing  for  one  month,  they  were  to  remain  for 
two,  inasmuch  as  the  field  of  their  expected  engagement  for 
the  second  month — Cincinnati — was  occupied  by  Boucicault. 

"  Well,  there  they  were  in  Louisville,  where  Dr.  Everts, 
with  others,  was  conducting  a  revival.  On  a  Sunday  morning 
George   Lorimer   and   Edwin    Strickland    were  passing  the 


LIFE   IN   KENTUCKY.  dO 

church  into  which  the  people  of  Louisville  were  pouring.  One 
proposed  to  the  other  that  they  go  in,  and  in  they  went.  The 
Rev.  Dr.  Teasdale  was  speaking.  Said  Strickland  to  Lori- 
mer,  referring  to  the  long  white  locks,  face,  and  bust  of  the 
venerable  preacher,  '  What  a  make-up  for  "  Lear,"  that 
would  be.'  Lorimer  agreed  that  it  would.  One  day  Strick- 
land was  studying  a  Western  cut-throat  atrocity  of  a  play 
written  by  some  local  aspirant.  Strickland  had  his  task,  and 
in  his  own  room,  at  his  boarding-house,  was  studying  his 
lines.  There  came  a  timid  rap  at  the  door.  The  occupant 
was  in  no  mood  to  receive  visitors  ;  his  room  was  littered 
with  theatrical  paraphernalia,  and  he  imaginged  that  the  in- 
truder was  a  representative  of  the  press.  But  he  threw  open 
the  door  and  revealed  two  ladies.  Said  one,  with  a  face  as  beau- 
tiful as  her  disposition  and  spirit  were  afterwards  found  to  be 
by  the  converted  actor,  '  I  must  have  come  to  the  wrong 
place.'  Strickland  assured  her  that  she  had,  but  politely 
invited  the  ladies  in.  Shortly  afterwards  their  host  informed 
his  visitors  that  he  was  an  actor.  Then  said  the  sweet-faced, 
noble  lady  who  had  previously  spoken,  '  The  soul  of  an  actor 
is  as  dear  to  me  as  any  others.'  The  lady  was  the  wife  of 
Dr.  Everts.  She  had  come  to  Strickland's  apartments  in  her 
noble  mission  for  the  distribution  of  tracts.  She  and  her 
companion  departed,  but  they  surely  left  a  foretaste  of  a  sweet 
balm  in  the  heart  of  the  actor,  Edwin  Strickland.  Shortly 
Lorimer  and  Mrs.  Strickland  returned  from  rehearsal,  and 
were  told  the  story  of  the  visitation.  It  seemed  to  go  no 
further ;  for  a  long  time  it  went  no  further  with  Mrs.  Strick- 
land, who  afterwards  became  converted  by  the  preaching  of 
her  own  husband.  But  Strickland  had  entertained  angels 
unawares,  despite  himself,  and  the  fruitage  came  in  good 
time.  Again  and  again  went  Lorimer  and  Strickland  to  the 
church,  and  heard  Dr.  Everts  preach.     Once  the  latter  came 


36  THE   LIFE   OF   REV.  AV.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D.     . 

to  their  rooms,  where  the  two  men  were  carousing  a  bit  with 
others  of  the  troupe.  Even  to  this  day  Dr.  Strickland  re- 
members how  he  offered  their  visitor  wine,  and  how  he  refused. 
^  You  have  offended  against  the  Lord  your  God,  and  your 
sins  will  find  you  out,'  said  the  pastor,  solemnly.  '  Your 
sins  will  find  you  out'  struck  the  elder  actor  with  conviction, 
for  some  time  before  the  same  words  had  pierced  his  soul,  as 
they  came  from  the  lips  of  the  dying  tragedian,  who  in  the 
death-struggle  seized  him  by  the  wrists  and  shouted  them  in 
his  ears.  Before  their  engagement  was  up,  Lorimer  and 
Strickland  were  baptized  at  the  same  time,  in  the  same  bap- 
tistry, by  the  hands  of  Dr.  Everts.  Then  the  ladies  rallied 
around  them  in  grand  style ;  and  Lorimer,  having  been  for  a 
time  under  the  tutelage  of  instructors  at  Georgetown  College, 
in  Kentucky,  who  did  not  understand  him,  instituted  a  school 
in  elocution,  and  soon  had  some  fifty  scholars.  Then  each 
pursued  his  particular  way,  in  time  was  duly  ordained,  and 
began  a  new  career." 

The  phenomenal  success  of  the  Louisville  pastorate  was 
attained  in  spite  of  many  difficulties.  It  would  be  preferable 
to  make  no  reference  to  the  envy  that  success  always  provokes, 
but  envy  may,  as  in  this  case,  appeal  to  motives  in  others  that 
are  honorable.  The  first  honorable  opposition  encountered 
was  aroused  by  an  article  published  by  the  new  pastor  in  May, 
1853,  in  the  Western  Recorder^  the  chief  Baptist  paper  in 
the  Southwest,  in  justification  of  the  union  of  Baptists  and 
Reformers  in  the  revision  of  the  Bible.  AVhen,  two  years 
later,  duriug  a  revival  in  the  Reformers'  Church  near  his  own, 
the  Baptist  pastor  offered  prayer,  and  went  so  far  as  to 
preach,  envious  men  circulated  the  report  that  Elder  Everts 
was  secretly  a  "  Campbellite."  When  it  is  remembered  how 
the  Reformers  had  divided,  and  distracted  the  Baptists  in 
Kentucky,  it  is  not  surprising  that  such  reports  occasioned 


LIFE    IN    KENTUCKY.  37 

wide-spread  alarm.  This  feeling  was  intensified  when,  upon 
the  death  of  John  L.  Waller,  the  Long  Run  Association,  on 
the  motion  of  the  pastor  of  Walnut  Street,  passed  resolu- 
tions eulogizing  his  character,  and  vindicating  his  fame  as  a 
Baptist  leader  against  those  who  had  sought  to  disparage  him 
because  of  his  union  with  "  Campbellites"  in  the  Revision 
As'sociation.  This  called  out  a  bitter  editorial  attack  from  a. 
Tennessee  paper,  which  also  began  in  1855  to  publish  invidi- 
ous letters  from  Louisville,  with  flings  at  fine  houses,  organs, 
titled  preachers,  heresy  and  disloyalty  to  the  denomination. 
Fuel  was  added  to  the  flames  by  the  publication  of  the  "  Bible 
Prayer-book,"  designed  to  assist  and  encourage  private  and 
family  devotion,  but  regarded  by  those  who  had  begun  to  be 
suspicious  of  the  author's  orthodoxy  as  a  bold  plan  to  intro- 
duce ritualism  into  the  denomination.  Soon  the  charge  of 
"  Universalism"  was  bandied  about,  because  the  preacher  had 
expressed  a  preference  of  an  upright  man  of  the  world  to  an 
immoral  professor  of  religion. 

Far  from  yielding  the  position  he  had  taken,  in  the  revi- 
sion movement,  Dr.  Everts  made  use  of  the  columns  of  the 
Christian  Repository^  a  monthly  that  was  under  his  control, 
to  conduct  a  lengthy  controversy  with  Dr.  J.  M.  Pendleton, 
the  author  of  "An  Old  Landmark  Reset,"  and  a  leader  in  the 
so-called  "  Landmark"  movement.  Dr.  Pendleton  held  that 
Pedobaptist  bodies  were  not  churches  of  Christ,  and  that 
Pedobaptist  ministers  could  not  administer  valid  baptism,  or 
lawfully  be  allowed  to  preach  in  Baptist  pulpits. 

These  three  positions  were  stated  and  controverted  at  length 
in  the  magazine.  "  Pedobaptists  are  in  the  condition  of  a 
regiment  or  a  company  which  has  misapprehended  an  order 
or  line  of  command,  and  not  of  one  intentionally  rebelling 
against  military  order.  Many  evil  consequences  may  follow, 
but  they  may  not  be  disowned  for  the  misapprehension  of  one 


38  THE   LIFE   OF   REV.  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 

order,  while  observing  ten.  Baptism  is  not  the  whole  busi- 
ness of  the  minister,  nor  the  whole  duty  of  the  believer. 
Surely,  moral  deficiency  should  go  farther  to  invalidate  the 
claim  to  be  regarded  as  a  regular  church  of  Christ,  than  cere- 
monial deficiency.  There  are  the  fragrance  and  beauty  and 
color  of  the  rose,  but  the  name  '  dog's-tail,'  or  maybe  '  night 
shade,'  is  given  to  it.  There  are  the  structure  and  flower  of 
the  nightshade  or  dog's-tail  grass,  but,  upon  some  botanical 
authority,  it  is  called  a  rose.  Have  not  some  Pedobaptist 
communions,  at  least,  got  a  part  way  out  of  Babylon  ?  Have 
all  Baptists,  in  their  spiritual-mindedness  and  practical  appli- 
cation of  the  truth,  got  clear  out  ? 

"  Our  denominational  controversies  seem  better  maintained 
than  our  Christian  controversies.  Our  churches  seem  some- 
times to  wrestle  more  intensely  against  the  principalities  of 
Pedobaptism  than  against  the  principalities  of  spiritual  wicked- 
ness rising  over  the  world,'  in  the  menacing  forms  of  paganism, 
papacy,  infidelity,  and  vice.  Such  has  been  the  tendency  of 
mankind  in  all  ages,  and  in  every  part  of  the  world,  to  exalt 
forms  and  parties  above  religion.  As  the  marriage  ceremony 
celebrates  but  does  not  constitute  the  marriage  contract,  so 
baptism  distinguishes  but  does  not  make  the  church.  If  bap- 
tism constitutes  the  separation  that  distinguishes  churches,  it 
is  a  saving  ordinance ;  if  essential  to  separation,  it  is  essen- 
tial to  salvation,  and  we  should  cease  to  denounce  baptismal 
regeneration."  The  following  paragraph  expresses  his  senti- 
ments on  the  controversial  spirit:  "  It  may  be  fairly  doubted 
whether  advocacy  of  the  truth,  however  learned,  logical,  or 
eloquent,  proceeding  from  low,  selfish,  partisan  motives,  or  con- 
ducted with  denunciation,  censoriousness,  or  uncharitableness, 
does  any  good, — whether  it  does  not,  on  the  whole,  by  awaken- 
ing disgust,  arousing  prejudice  and  partisan  feeling,  and 
organizing  opposition,  do  more  harm  than  good,  and  defer, 


LIFE  IN   KENTUCKY.  39 

instead  of  hasten,  the  millennial  triumph  of  truth.  The  bad 
passions  inflamed  and  perpetuated  seem  to  prevent  or  counter- 
balance all  the  advantage  of  intellectual  enlightenment.  And 
those  insulted,  while  convinced,  will  continue  in  the  same 
course  of  action  still.  We  can  no  more  whip  error  out  of 
the  community  by  the  scorpion-lash  of  controversy,  than  we 
can  drive  out  of  the  community  insults,  violence,  altercations, 
and  murders  by  carrying  bowie-knives  and  pistols.  There  is 
an  order  of  religious  controversy  as  effectually  barring  the 
progress  of  truth,  as  pistols  and  bowie-knives  the  prevention 
of  frequent  altercations  and  murders,  and  the  triumph  of 
peace  principles." 

Another  complaint  was  not  doctrinal,  but  sectional.  Unfor- 
tunately for  the  pastor  at  that  period  of  his  life,  he  was  not 
born  at  the  South.  It  was  natural  for  him  to  introduce 
James  Edmands  and  Stephen  Remington  from  the  North,  as 
secretaries  at  the  Revision  Rooms,  and  to  bring  Elder  Jacob 
Knapp  to  conduct  revival  services,  but  it  looked  to  some 
as  though  his  purpose  was  to  "  Easternize"  and  "  Yankeeize" 
Kentucky.  The  pastor  had  never  made  a  hobby  of  anything, 
of  anti-masonry  or  of  abolition,  but  it  was  difficult  for  him 
to  make  Elder  Knapp  appreciate  the  delicacy  of  his  position. 
The  Evangelist  could  not  endure  the  restraint,  and  would 
have  made  a  public  attack  upon  slavery  if  his  services  had 
not  been  summarily  closed.  As  early  as  November,  1854, 
warning  came  of  "  a  series  of  articles  of  a  provoking  and 
denunciatory  nature"  that  was  to  appear  in  the  Recorder 
to  force  on  a  controversy  concerning  North  and  South. 
Some  of  his  friends  urged  him  to  strengthen  his  position  by 
hiring,  if  not  purchasing,  a  slave. 

In  the  spring  of  that  year,  John  L.  Waller  wrote  a  letter 
full  of  foreboding  of  trouble  for  the  Baptist  cause  in  Louis- 
ville. 


40  THE   LIFE   OP   REV*  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 


"Salina,  May  9,  1854. 
"  Dear  Brother  Everts, — Come  and  spend  several  days 
with  me  this  week.  Do  not  fail,  as  I  want  to  confer  with 
you  on  matters  of  importance,  and  about  which  I  can  confer 
with  no  one  else  in  Louisville.  I  believe,  like  myself,  you 
wear  but  one  face,  and  use  but  one  tongue.  In  plain  Eng- 
lish, I  do  not  like  certain  things  pertaining  to  our  general 
affairs  in  your  city.  There  are  too  many  cliques  and  too 
much  underground  working  to  please  me ;  and  I  came  home 
almost  resolved  to  resign  all  connection  with  Revision,  etc., 
and  to  wash  my  hands  from  every  public  concern.  I  hope, 
then,  you  will  be  sure  to  come,  and  do  not  come  in  a  hurry, 
but  stay  some  two  days. 

"  In  haste,  yours,  etc., 

"  John  L.  Waller." 

January  2,  1855,  Dr.  J.  L.  Burrows  writes  from  Rich- 
mond, Va.,  that  reports  have  reached  there  that  Louisville 
cannot  be  relied  on  for  the  Southern  Boards.  On  Novem- 
ber 29,  1857,  S.  S.  Helma  writes  from  Covington,  Ky., 
"  Local  prejudices,  North  and  South,  are  wrong,  but  they 
exist.  Several  preachers  and  a  host  of  Baptists  sympathize 
with  me  in  my  astonishment  that  an  agent  from  the  North 
should  be  appointed  agent  of  the  Revision  Association.  You 
will  find  out,  if  you  have  not  already,  that  Kentuckians  are 
apt  to  do  much  as  they  please,  right  or  wrong.  They  may 
not  contend  much  about  what  they  shall  do  or  shall  not  do, 
but,  after  all,  take  their  own  course."  Sectional  animosity 
was  inflamed  not  so  much  by  natives  as  by  immigrants  from 
the  North.  After  hearing  a  fiery  speech  from  an  ex-New 
Englander  at  Nashville,  John  L.  Waller  turned  to  Stephen 
Remington  and  said,  "  You  see  who  are  ultraists ;  they  are 


LIFE   IN   KENTUCKY.  41 

not  Southerners,  but  your  Eastern  people  who  have  come  to 
live  among  us." 

The  following  letter  illustrates  the  method  resorted  to,  not 
by  a  native,  but  by  a  foreigner,  to  arouse  prejudice  against 
Dr.  Everts : 

"  Wkst  Chester,  Pa.,  July  5,  1858. 

"  Dear  Brother, — I  take  the  liberty  of  giving  you  the 
following  information,  which  may  possibly  materially  concern 
you.  Some  weeks  ago  there  appeared  in  the  New  York  Tribune 
and,  perhaps,  in  other  papers,  an  advertisement  calling  for  a  file 
of  the  Tribune  for  1850,  and  offering  five  dollars  for  it.  A 
friend  of  mine  in  West  Chester  responded  to  the  advertise- 
ment, received  the  five  dollars,  and  sent  the  file.  Some  days 
afterwards  he  received  a  letter  from  LouisviUe,  whither 
the  papers  were  sent,  stating  that  the  article  required  could 
not  be*  found  in  the  file  for  1850,  and  requesting  him  to 
examine  his  file  for  the  following  year,  and  if  he  found  a  paper 
containing  a  'protest  or  petition  against  the  Fugitive  Slave 
Law  signed  with  the  name  of  W.  W.  Everts  and  others,  he 
should  receive  five  dollars  for  that  single  paper.  He  re-exam- 
ined, and  finding  no  such  article,  he  wrote  to  that  effect,  and 
supposed  the  matter  ended.  Since  then  he  has  received 
another  letter  from  Louisville^  suggesting  if  the  article  de- 
sired is  not  in  the  Tribune  it  may  be  in  the  New  York  Inde- 
pendent, or  some  paper  of  similar  stamp,  and  offering  ten 
dollars  for  any  paper  that  contains  ih^  protest  ov  petition  with 
the  name  of  W.  W.  Everts  amons;  the  si^-ners.  This  last 
letter  he  has  not  answered,  and  I  believe  does  not  intend  to 
answer.  He  believes  that  there  is  a  conspiracy  to  injure  you 
on  the  part  of  certain  pro-slavery  men,  and,  being  a  strong 
anti-slavery  man  himself,  he  does  not  feel  like  lending  himself 
to  such  work.  One  of  the  letters  is  signed  Frank  Tryon, 
which,  of  course,  is  an  assumed  name,  and  directs  the  docu- 


42  THE   LIFE   OF   REV.  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 

ment  to  be  sent  to  that  name  in  care  of  the  Express  Agent  in 
Louisville.  The  initials  '  S.  H.'  appear  at  the  bottom  of  the 
letter,  for  what  object  I  cannot  conceive.  These  are  the  facts 
as  they  have  come  to  my  ears.  It  seemed  to  me  that  some 
personal  enemies,  for  the  accomplishment  of  hostile  pur- 
poses against  you,  were  striving  in  this  manner  to  impair 
your  reputation  in  your  city,  and  detract  from  your  popularity 
by  appealing  to  popular  prejudice.  On  the  supposition  that 
this  might  be  so,  I  have  hastened  to  drop  you  these  few 
lines,  putting  you  on  your  guard,  if  it  be  necessary,  against 
the  machinations  of  those  of  whom  you  may  be  ignorant. 
With  the  few  data  above,  you  may,  possibly,  trace  the  con- 
spirators, and  break  a  covert  attack.  Trusting  that  such  may 
be  the  issue, 

"  I  am  yours,  fraternally, 
"  Robert  Lowry,  Pastor  Baptist  Church,  West  Chester^ 

Mr.  Arthur  Peter  writes  :  "  Dr.  Everts's  ministry  in  Louis- 
ville was  an  undoubted  and  uninterrupted  success  from  be- 
ginning to  end.  His  rapid  progress  towards  pre-eminence  in 
the  ministry  of  the  State  excited  the  envy  of  some  ground- 
lings, and  their  jealousy  soon  found  out  the  vulnerable  place 
in  Dr.  Everts's  character.  He  was  without  policy  or  guile, 
open  and  outspoken  in  everything,  so  much  so  that  some  of 
his  friends  said  '  he  thought  aloud.'  "  In  justification  of  fol- 
lowing one's  impulses,  Dr.  Everts  said :  "In  projecting  great 
plans,  wariness  should  always  be  associated  with  just  purposes. 
Many  disinterested  and  noble  lives  have  been  unsuccessful  for 
want  of  practical  wisdom.  But  in  the  minor  affairs  of  life, 
minutiae  of  daily  conduct  pure  motive  and  impulses  may  be 
almost  exclusively  trusted.  In  guidance  for  man  they  approxi- 
mate the  infallibility  of  instinct.  Pausing  ever  to  consider 
expediencies  of  words  or  acts,  one  becomes  timid  and  irreso- 


LIFE   IN   KENTUCKY.  43 

lute,  if  not  sinister  or  selfish.  One  regulating  his  life  only  by 
expediencies  is  like  one  attemping  to  keep  a  clock  regulated 
by  external  pressure  upon  the  hands,  forcing  them  to  follow 
the  figures  on  the  dial-plate.  One  regulating  his  life  by 
cultivating  just  and  generous  impulses  is  adjusting  a  latent 
force,  an  internal  spirit  that  assures  the  steady  movement  of 
the  clock  and  the  infallible  direction  of  the  hands."  The 
man  who  fomented  the  discord  in  Louisville  took  delight  in 
the  thought  that  the  Louisville  trouble  would  become  histori- 
cal, and  that  his  name  in  connection  with  it  would  descend  to 
posterity. 

"In  reviewing  the  Louisville  experiences,"  said  Dr.  Everts, 
"  I  see  not  how  I  could  have  been  loyal  to  conscience  and 
honor  of  the  Baptist  denomination,  and  of  Christianity,  and 
pursued  a  different  course.  I  see  no  merit  in  getting  along 
in  the  ministry  or  church  with  men  of  bad  reputation.  The 
public  confidence  is  destroyed  by  the  church  which  compro- 
mises with  bad  character  and  life.  An  ancient  church  was 
praised  because  it  could  not  bear  the  deeds  of  the  Nicolaitans. 
Christianity  is  more  honored  by  failure  in  a  struggle  to  purify 
the  ministry  or  church  than  by  the  most  successful  compro- 
mise to  conceal  them."  The  conflict  was  annoying,  and  ren- 
dered his  position  somewhat  uncomfortable,  but  it  had  no 
efiect  upon  the  size  of  the  congregations  or  the  general  pros- 
perity of  the  church.  The  extraordinary  favor  of  God  upon 
the  work  in  Louisville  led  the  pastor  to  turn  a  deaf  ear  to  an 
invitation  from  High  Street  Church,  Baltimore,  dated  March 
1,  1855,  and  to  another  from  Laight  Street,  New  York  City, 
sent  April  28,  1856.  In  May,  1858,  he  was  visited  by  a 
committee  from  Augusta,  Georgia,  with  a  request  to  succeed 
Dr.  Brantly ;  in  June  he  is  urged  to  go  to  St.  Louis  as  pastor 
of  a  new  church  of  two  hundred  members  gathered  by  Elder 
Knapp,  and  in  July  he  receives  a  letter  from  the  chairman  of  a 


44  THE   LIFE   OF   REV.  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 

committee  of  the  North  Church,  Chicago,  saying :  "  We  are  all 
exceedingly  anxious  to  get  you  here,  and,  if  you  are  willing  to 
leave  Louisville  at  all,  I  am  very  certain  this  is  the  place  for 
you,  and  you  are  the  man  to  occupy  the  field."  The  last 
request  greatly  moved  him,  and  on  two  Monday  mornings  he 
was  on  the  point  of  starting  for  Chicago,  but  each  time  he 
was  providentially  hindered  from  going.  Undoubtedly  a  very 
few  of  the  leading  brethren  were  weary  of  the  conflict  forced 
upon  their  pastor,  and  saw  no  hope  of  peace  unless  he  with- 
drew from  the  scene ;  but  the  almost  unanimous  voice  of  the 
church  prevailed  upon  him  to  abandon  thought  of  leaving  at 
that  time  lest  a  breach  in  the  church  should  be  the  result. 
As  a  tangible  evidence  of  affection,  the  sisters  Mrs.  Lucy  G. 
Tucker,  Jas.  Edmunds,  Charles  Duffield,  Jas.  E.  Tyler,  V.  C. 
Peter,  Kate  Halbert,  I.  D.  Allen,  Wm.  Pratt,  and  N.  C. 
Morse  presented  a  blooded  horse  with  carriage.  At  the  same 
time,  in  May,  1858,  a  complete  set  of  Olshausen's  Commen- 
taries was  received  as  an  appreciation  "  both  of  your  public 
services  and  private  worth."  The  church  passed  unanimously 
the  resolution,  "  That  we  cherish  undiminished  confidence 
in  the  purity  of  his  character  and  his  fidelity  to  the  great 
principles  to  which  we  hold  as  a  denomination." 

In  1859  calls  began  to  come  again, — in  March  to  visit  Cin- 
cinnati, and  in  June  to  succeed  Dr.  Samson  in  the  pastorate  of 
the  Calvary  Church,  Washington,  while  at  the  same  time 
negotiations  were  pending  with  the  First  Church,  Chicago. 
On  June  8,  a  letter  from  Chicago  says,  "  The  sooner  you 
are  here  the  better  for  the  interest  of  the  church."  On  June 
10,  the  Louisville  church  requests,  "  In  view  of  your  fiuth- 
ful  labors  and  the  success  that  has  attended  your  ministry, 
that  you  reconsider  your  determination,  and  if  it  accord  with 
your  views  of  duty,  to  withdraw  your  resignation."  Even 
then,  though  the  call  to  Chicago  had  been  accepted,  he  would 


LIFE   IN   KENTUCKY.  45 

have  withdrawn  his  resignation,  could  he  have  been  assured 
that  this  unanimous  request  pledged  the  co-operation  of  every 
member.  For,  as  his  wife  wrote :  "  We  shall  never  proba- 
bly find  a  church  who  will  love  Mr.  Everts  any  better  than 
this,  but  there  are  some  spirits  who  make  a  Northern  pastor's 
place  very  uncomfortable.  Life  is  too  short  to  waste  in  antag- 
onisms." When  the  final  decision  was  announced  to  the 
church,  "  They  mourned  with  a  depth  of  sorrow  seldom  wit- 
nessed except  where  the  bereavement  has  been  occasioned  by 
death." 

With  remarkable  generosity,  an  extra  quarter's  salary  was 
voted  to  the  retiring  pastor,  but  not  a  dollar  of  the  five  hun- 
dred was  taken  to  Chicago.  It  was  all  distributed  between 
two  needy  City  Missions,  for  which  one  thousand  dollars  more 
was  raised  during  the  last  week  spent  in  Louisville.  Thus  the 
last  days  in  Louisville  were  spent  as  the  last  in  Wheatland 
had  been,  in  firmly  establishing  new  enterprises.  Upon  the 
occasion  of  a  visit  South,  the  following  year,  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
Everts  were  overwhelmed  with  attention.  Many  contended 
for  the  privilege  of  entertaining  them.  A  solid  silver  service, 
inscribed  "  In  memoria  eterua,"  was  presented.  Mrs.  Everts 
wrote,  "  I  never  felt  so  overwhelmed  by  demonstrations  of 
affection  in  my  life."  On  their  way  to  the  new  pastorate,  a 
stopping-place  was  offered  at  West  Urbana,  111.,  in  the  home  of 
Mr.  A.  E.  Harmon,  a  former  resident  of  W^heatland.  "  Chi- 
cago is  the  place,"  he  writes :  "  there  will  be  a  first-class 
college  there,  and  probably  a  theological  seminary." 


46  THE   LIFE   OF   REV.  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 


CHAPTER   IV. 

GROWING    UP   WITH   CHICAGO. 

The  condition  of  the  Baptist  cause  in  Chicago  in  1859 
was  not  hopefuh  Three  of  the  churches  were  in  debt  for 
their  buildings,  and  the  other  two  for  their  land.  The  First 
Church  was  threatened  with  foreclosure.  The  mortgage  upon 
its  edifice  amounted  to  twelve  thousand  dollars,  and  there  was 
a  floating  debt  of  two  thousand  dollars  to  weigh  down  still 
lower  the  spirits  of  the  people.  The  community  had  not 
recovered  from  the  effects  of  the  panic,  and  all  religious  enter- 
prises were  suffering.  The  fine  building  occupied  by  the 
Universalists,  rumor  said,  would  be  abandoned.  It  was  evident 
to  the  new  pastor  that  the  financial  burden  upon  the  church 
must  be  lifted  in  order  to  free  the  spiritual  energies  of  the 
people,  and  after  beginning  his  labors  the  third  Sunday  of 
July,  as  early  as  the  third  week  in  September  he  impressed 
upon  the  church  the  imperative  duty  of  raising  the  entire 
debt.  A  committee  was  appointed  to  consider  the  matter  on 
Wednesday,  their  favorable  report  was  adopted  on  Friday,  and 
on  Sunday  morning,  after  a  sermon  from  the  text,  "  The  love 
of  Christ  constraineth  us,"  the  appeal  was  made  to  the  con- 
gregation. Viva  voce  responses  were  called  for  from  the  floor, 
and  were  given  by  men  and  women,  two  or  three  arising  at  a 
time,  till  the  whole  congregation  was  electrified.  As  it  was 
announced  that  no  subscription  was  binding  unless  every  dollar 
was  subscribed,  the  struggle  became  more  and  more  exciting. 


GROWING  UP   WITH   CHICAGO.  47 

The  most  hopeful  had  predicted  that  half  of  the  amount 
might  possibly  be  secured ;  but  when  in  forty  minutes  the 
whole  mortgage  had  been  cleared,  many  were  eager  now  to 
sink  the  floating;  debt.  But  this  was  reserved  as  a  little  mat- 
tcr  for  absent  members  and  friends  to  care  for,  and  in  the 
assurance  that  they  would  do  their  share,  service  of  thanks- 
giving and  congratulation  was  announced  for  the  next  Tuesday 
evening.  "  Good  grit,"  the  daily  paper  said.  "  That  is  effec- 
tive preaching."  The  news  spread  throughout  the  city  and 
encouraged  the  Universalists  to  save  their  property.  It  spread 
throughout  the  Northwest,  where  the  whole  denomination 
rejoiced  at  the  triumph  of  its  metropolitan  church.  It  pro- 
duced more  of  a  sensation,  says  Dr.  Wm.  Haigh,  than  the 
recent  gift  of  one  million  dollars  by  Mr.  Rockefeller. 

That  subscription  made  possible  the  subsequent  and  imme- 
diate growth  of  the  Baptist  cause  in  Chicago.  It  inaugurated 
the  era  of  mission  schools,  established  by  the  First  Church. 
December  29,  1861,  the  North  Star  building  was  dedicated 
and  the  largest  school  in  the  city  was  gathered  in  it.  About 
the  same  time  a  lot  was  given  by  a  Philadelphia  lady,  a  visitor 
at  the  parsonage,  and  the  Shields  mission  became  as  well  known 
on  the  South  side  as  the  other  on  the  North.  These  two 
enterprises  were  hardly  launched  when  a  third  was  undertaken 
in  the  neighborhood  of  the  University.  Lots  were  given 
by  property-owi^rs,  and  a  first  subscription  of  two  thousand 
dollars  was  secured,  enough  to  enclose  the  lecture-room.  To 
prevent  delay,  if  not  the  abandonment  of  the  unfinished 
structure,  the  pastor  became  personally  responsible  to  the  con- 
tractor, and  as  the  work  advanced,  week  by  week,  he  labori- 
ously raised  the  money  to  pay  the  bills.  The  deficiency  of 
six  hundred  dollars  was  secured  on  the  day  of  dedication, 
April  12,  1863,  the  church  omitting  its  regular  service  to 
attend.     He  "  builded  better  than  he  knew,"  for  within  ten 


48  THE    LIVE    OF   REV.  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 

years  this  property  and  the  Baptists  gathered  there  constituted 
the  balance  of  the  power  which  determined  the  present 
admirable  location  and  the  grand  career  of  the  mother- 
church. 

These  enterprises  having  been  firmly  established,  the  atten- 
tion of  the  far-seeing  pastor  was  now  concentrated  upon  the 
needs  of  the  home  field.  Business  was  moving  towards,  and 
families  were  moving  away  from,  Washington  Street,  where 
the  church  building  stood.  Calmly,  patiently,  earnestly,  he 
pressed  upon  the  attention  of  the  church  the  necessity  of 
finding  a  better  location.  When,  at  length,  the  Board  of 
Trade  made  an  ofi"er  of  sixty-five  thousand  dollars  for  the 
land  on  which  the  church  stood,  by  a  two-thirds  vote  the 
offer  was  accepted,  and  to  satisfy  the  minority  it  was  also 
voted  to  give  the  meeting-house  and  furniture  to  the  Second 
Church,  and  to  distribute  fifteen  thousand  dollars  among 
the  other  churches  in  the  city,  according  to  their  necessities. 
With  the  gift  of  six  thousand  five  hundred  dollars  the  North 
Church  was  able  to  purchase  a  lot  and  enlarge  its  building ; 
with  the  four  thousand  dollars  given  to  it,  the  Fourth  Church 
secured  a  desirable  location ;  and  the  Wabash  Avenue  (later 
Michigan  Avenue)  Church  was  helped  sufficiently  to  cancel 
its  debt.  Reserving  fifty  thousand  dollars  from  the  sale  of 
the  property  for  its  own  use,  the  First  Church  added  thirty 
thousand  dollars  to  it  by  a  subscription  taken  at  the  farewell 
service  in  the  old  house,  held  April  3,  1864,  and  dwelt  in 
tabernacles  until  the  first  of  January,  when  the  lecture-room 
of  the  new  structure  on  Wabash  Avenue  was  dedicated.  On 
this  occasion  thirty-three  thousand  dollars  more  were  given, 
with  an  additional  one  thousand  dollars,  when  the  children's 
chapel,  beautiful  with  organ,  fountain,  and  flowers,  was  con- 
secrated. Great  was  the  burden  of  anxiety  on  the  pastor 
during   these    months,   for   it   was   a   question   with    many 


GROWING   UP   WITH   CHICAGO.  49 

whether  the  enterprise  would  be  a  magnificent  success  or 
a  dismal  failure.  His  old  New  York  physician  warned 
him  against  the  recurrence  of  the  prostration  of  the  year 
1849.  "  If  you  resume  your  habit  of  taking  up  responsi- 
bilities on  every  subject,  you  will  break  down  completely,  but 
if  you  abstain  from  responsibilities  about  the  college  and 
other  outside  matter,  your  health  may  be  permanently  re- 
stored." 

Had  it  not  been  for  the  commensurate  spiritual  growth  of 
the  church,  this  large  undertaking  would  have  failed.  But 
their  prayers  and  their  alms  went  up  together  for  a  me- 
morial before  God.  Fully  three  hundred  members  had  been 
added  to  the  church  since  the  year  1859.  Furthermore,  the 
magnificent  pile  of  stone  captivated  the  eye  of  the  citizens, 
and  their  help  was  secured  so  largely  that  on  March  18, 1866, 
dedication  day,  a  day  never  to  be  forgotten,  the  sum  of 
fifty-three  thousand  dollars,  the  largest  amount  ever  pledged 
in  this  country  at  that  time  on  such  an  occasion,  was  freely 
given,  and  a  property  costing  one  hundred  and  seventy-two 
thousand  dollars,  declared  by  James  Parton  to  have  the  finest 
appointments  of  any  Protestant  edifice  in  the  United  States, 
was  ofi"ered  to  God  free  of  debt.  The  national  Baptist  anni- 
versaries were  invited  to  meet  in  the  new  building  the  fol- 
lowing year.  "  Come  one,  come  all,"  was  the  invitation,  and 
fully  three  thousand  persons  responded  to  the  call. 

The  proud  standing  of  church  and  pastor  at  that  time  is 
set  forth  in  the  enthusiastic  language  used  by  "  January 
Searle"  in  his  book  on  "  Chicago  Churches."  "  From  1859 
the  march  of  the  church  has  been  a  regal  progress  through 
triumphant  arches  and  over  roads  strewn  with  flowers  and 
amid  the  glorification  of  redeemed  souls  and  the  acclamations 
of  angels."  The  recent  handbook  of  Chicago,  prepared  by 
Marquis,  refers  to  the  glorious  administration  of  Dr.  Everts, 

4 


50  THE   LIFE   OF  REV.  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 

when  the  church  numbered  "  two  thousand  members."  The 
large  figures  would  be  true  if  they  referred  to  the  attendance 
at  that  time  upon  the  various  Sunday-schools  controlled  by 
the  church. 

At  this  moment  of  his  greatest  power  in  Chicago,  invita- 
tions came  to  him  to  assume  the  editorial  charge  of  a  news- 
paper about  to  be  started  in  New  York  City,  and  to  become 
pastor  of  the  First  Church  in  San  Francisco.  The  latter  call 
was  strongly  pressed  upon  his  attention.  The  retiring  pastor, 
Dr.  D.  B.  Cheney,  wrote:  "There  is  no  field  to  compare 
with  it  in  our  country.  The  esteem  in  which  you  are  held 
alike  among  our  ministers  and  laymen  would  cause  them  all 
to  rally  around  you  as  their  leader  in  all  enterprises.  I 
earnestly  hope  and  pray  that  you  may  be  led  to  regard  this 
Macedonian  cry  with  favor.  You  have  built  a  monument 
which  you  can  afford  to  leave  in  Chicago.  Go  and  seek  to 
build  a  similar  one  on  the  Pacific  before  you  die,  and  be  assured 
the  prayers  of  many  thousands  will  follow  you."  Dr.  C.  A. 
Buckbee  writes  from  California  :  "  All  eyes  turn  to  you.  All 
friends  of  education  are  praying  for  Dr.  Everts.  The  Bible 
Union  wants  you.  The  pastors  all  want  you.  The  First 
Church  needs  you.  Christ  needs  you.  God  has  made  you  a 
power  for  church  extension.  That  is  now  needed  here.  Do 
not,  do  not  say  no."  From  his  old  New  York  friend,  Wil- 
liam Phelps,  he  hears:  "  Since  you  left,  my  mind  has  been  a 
good  deal  exercised  about  your  call.  There  are  so  few  men 
fitted  for  that  important  position,  so  few  that  have  formative 
and  directing  power  much  needed  in  that  vast  field.  I  do  not 
believe  we  have  a  man  in  our  denomination  that  would  fill 
that  place  like  yourself.  There  you  would  be  perfect  master 
of  the  situation.  I  do  not  write  to  advise,  but  to  suggest 
that  if  God  inclines  your  heart  in  that  direction,  do  not  pass 
it  lightly  by.     When  God  opens  those  wide  doors  of  useful- 


GROWING   UP   WITH    CHICAGO.  51 

ness  to  his  servants,  it  is  right  for  them  to  consider  well 
before  they  decide."  In  a  like  strain,  Dr.  J.  B.  Simmons 
writes  from  the  Home  Mission  rooms :  "  Now,  dear  brother, 
while  Chicago  is  of  vast  importance,  and  while  the  work  you 
have  done  there  has  been,  under  God,  superior  to  what  almost 
any  other  man  in  our  ranks  could  have  achieved,  and  while 
we  here,  and  the  people  of  the  Northwest,  would  dread  to 
think  of  you  as  having  left,  yet — yet  what  of  San  Francisco, 
California,  and  the  Pacific  Coast  ?  You  would  be  equal  to 
one  hundred  common  men  to  our  cause  on  that  coast.  Please 
consult  the  Lord  about  it.  The  work,  the  field,  and  the  man 
are  his."  But  it  was  against  the  policy  of  his  life  to  make 
a  change  unless  the  call  to  go  was  unmistakable.  In  this  case 
the  call  to  stay  seemed  the  louder.  Besides,  he  considered 
Chicago  second  to  no  field  in  the  world ;  his  whole  soul  was 
engrossed  in  the  establishment  of  Baptist  institutions  of 
learning  there,  and  last,  but  not  least,  he  had  his  family  and 
kindred  about  him.  His  church  had  become  the  strongest 
and  wealthiest  in  the  city,  and  paid,  as  the  internal  revenue 
collector  found,  the  handsome  salary  of  five  thousand  dollars. 
He  concluded  to  let  well  enough  alone. 

The  new  house  of  worship  became  known  as  the  strong- 
hold of  orthodoxy  on  account  of  a  friendly  controversy  car- 
ried on  in  pulpit  and  press  with  Bev.  Laird  Collier,  a  neigh- 
borino-  Unitarian  minister.  The  sermons  attracted  crowded 
houses,  and  were  the  religious  topic  of  the  day.  Though  the 
owner  of  McYicker's  theatre  lived  next  door,  his  profession 
was  made  the  subject  of  frequent  philippics.  Yet  Mary,  the 
manager's  daughter,  frequently  found  her  way  into  the  ser- 
vices, and  not  only  brightened  the  social  gatherings  by  her 
recitations,  but  also  thrilled  the  prayer-meetings  by  her  con- 
fession of  sin  and  her  need  of  the  Saviour.  Her  later  career 
as  the  wife  of  Edwin  Booth  is  known  to  the  public,  but  the 


52  THE   LIFE   OF   REV.  W.  AV.  EVERTS,  D.D. 

true  glory  of  her  life  was  seen,  not  on  the  gaudy  stage,  but  in 
the  quiet  chapel. 

In  view  of  Dr.  Everts's  repeated  assaults  on  the  theatre, 
the  following  letter  of  inquiry  from  Rev.  De  Loss  Love,  of 
Milwaukee,  acquires  a  tinge  of  humor  : 

"  Milwaukee,  October  26,  1867. 
"  Rev.  Dr.  Everts  : 

"  Dear  Sir, — While  at  an  editor's  office  last  evening,  the 
agent  of  the  '  Black  Crook  Spectacle'  inquired  of  me  for  some 
benevolent  society  here  for  which  he  might  give  a  benefit, 
saying  that  in  Chicago  he  gave  in  that  way  eleven  hundred 
dollars  to  the  Home  for  the  Friendless.  He  then  said  that 
Dr.  Everts,  who  lives  on  Wabash  Avenue,  at  first  objected  to 
the  '  Black  Crook,'  but  on  his  invitation  went  to  see  the  per- 
formance, and  took  his  wife  alono;,  he  sending  a  carriage  for 
them.  And  that  when  Dr.  Hatfield  preached  against  the 
'  Black  Crook,'  Dr.  Everts  came  out  and  advocated  it,  affirming 
that  there  was  nothiog  harmful  in  it." 

In  all  moral  reforms  the  pastor  of  the  First  Baptist  Church 
took  such  a  leading  position  that  it  was  seriously  proposed  by 
the  better  elements  of  the  population  to  nominate  him  for  mayor 
of  Chicago,  as  the  following  editorial  declares :  "  A  sensation  for 
politicians. — The  latest  local  political  sensation  is  to  the  efi"ect 
that  the  coming  city  campaign  is  to  be  made  exciting  by  the 
appearance  of  one  of  our  well-known  divines  on  the  stage  as 
candidate  for  mayor,  so  that  the  contest  will  be  '  Everts  versus 
Schintz,'  or  '  Bible  versus  Beer.'  In  other  words,  a  strong 
movement,  it  is  said,  is  being  made  by  religious  people  to 
bring  out  Rev.  Dr.  Everts,  the  live  pastor  of  the  First  Baptist 
Church,  as  the  champion  of  the  anti-liquor,  anti-Sabbath- 
breaking  sentiment ;  that  the  extended  machinery  of  the 
churches,  the  Sunday-  and  mission-schools,  and  the  Young 


GROWING   UP   WITH    CHICAGO.  53 

Men's  Christian  Association  is  to  be  set  at  work  to  sweep  the 
city  with  a  genuine  reform  ticket  whicli  shall  make  '  rings' 
and  '  barnacles'  tremble.  The  idea  is  by  no  means  a  chimeri- 
cal one,  and  politicians  had  better  prepare  for  a  storm.  Dr. 
Everts  is  said  to  be  a  natural  politician  and  a  stirring,  shrewd 
business  man,  as  well  a@  a  successful  divine,  and  if  he  got  his 
coat  off  in  a  battle  for  the  saints,  sinners  would  be  very  sure 
to  hear  from  him.  We  shall  watch  the  development  of  this 
movement  with  great  interest." 

The  year  1868  was  full  of  honors  and  of  cares.  One  of 
the  trustees  of  the  church  made  his  pastor  a  life-member  of 
the  Chicago  Academy  of  Sciences ;  the  American  Baptist 
Historical  Society  advanced  him  to  the  oflBce  of  vice-presi- 
dent, a  position  which  he  held  for  several  years  ;  the  Home 
Mission  Society  asked  him  to  represent  the  West,  as  Dr. 
Broadus  the  South,  at  the  anniversary  in  New  York.  Among 
the  minor  cares  are  letters  to  be  answered  inquiring  concern- 
ing the  Chicago  plan  of  church  extension  and  methods  of 
benevolence  and  church  discipline.  The  following  letters 
illustrate  the  burdens  he  cheerfully  lifted  : 

"  Dr.  Everts: 

"  Dear  Sir, — I  take  the  liberty  of  sending  forty  dollars  to 
your  care  for  safety.  Please  pay  it  to  my  son,  not  to  bearer, 
and  advise  him  in  all  things,  and,  above  all,  to  come  right  on 
to  Baltimore,  where  liome  2ind  friends  are  waiting  him,  and, 
above  all,  to  let  no  one  tempt  him  to  wander  any  more  or  to 
stay  in  Chicago.  He  has  had  great  distress,  not  even  bread  to 
eat.  He  thought  I  had  gone  to  Japan  with  his  father.  I  am 
a  Baptist.  Protect  my  poor  boy,  sir,  and  may  a  mother's 
prayers  be  heard  for  you. 

"  Very  respectfully, 

"  Mrs.  Nichols." 


54  THE   LIFE   OF   REV.  AV.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 

"  Monday^  16. — Yesterday  a  home  of  culture  and  refine- 
ment was  threatened  with  ruin ;  your  sermon  on  charity  has 
saved  separation  and  domestic  misery  in  that  instance." 

A  series  of  sensational  articles,  entitled  "  Walks  among  the 
Churches,"  retailing  gossip  and  scandal,  appeared  at  this  time, 
and  called  forth  from  him  this  remai^  :  "  The  press,  like  a 
parrot,  repeats  all  that  is  said  in  the  great  family.  The  family 
is  more  to  blame  for  its  loose  tongue  in  speaking  than  the 
parrot  for  repeating  what  it  hears." 

His  sunny  disposition  sent  forth  bright  rays  in  every  direc- 
tion. "  I  thank  you,"  wrote  Rev.  I.  E.  Kenny,  in  the  midst 
of  a  new  enterprise  at  Hyde  Park.  "  I  thank  you  for  the 
words  of  cheer  and  encouragement  you  gave  me  at  the  book- 
store the  other  day.  I  was  in  need  of  just  that  at  that  time. 
You  very  kindly  asked  me  if  I  had  found  anything  discourag- 
ing. No,  but  we  need  encouraging  by  our  brethren,  and  this 
is  to  thank  you  especially  for  that  word  of  brotherly  kindness 
the  other  day.     It  did  me  good." 

On  February  11,  Rev.  Robt.  Atkinson  writes  in  behalf  of 
Ottawa  University :  "  The  college  can  be  saved  to  the  denomi- 
nation if  aid  will  be  given  now,  otherwise  it  will  undoubtedly 
go,  as  it  has  come  to  this  with  the  Indians,  either  finish  the 
building  or  give  it  up.  I  am  willing  to  take  hold  and  do  my 
best  if  I  am  encouraged.  Please  write  your  feelings  about  the 
matter.  I  must  decide  my  destiny  very  soon.  If  I  do  not  re- 
turn to  Kansas  I  must  accept  a  call  that  has  been  pressing  upon 
me  from  a  church."  On  August  21,  asking  for  help  in  secur- 
ing a  railroad  pass,  he  adds  :  "  I  am  asking  too  much  from  you, 
I  know,  but  I  have  no  one  else  to  look  to  aid  me  in  these  mat- 
ters. But  they  are  for  the  Master's  cause  and  for  the  good  of 
the  Baptist  denomination,  both  of  which  I  know  you  love." 
A  year  later  he  writes :  "  You  have  taken  a  deep  interest  in  the 
Ottawa  cause.     It  is  a  denominational  matter,  as  you,  more 


GROWING   UP   WITH    CHICAGO.  55 

than  most  men,  will  understand.  I  came  here  at  the  earnest  so- 
licitation of  many,  yours  included.  The  Lord  pity  Chicago  if 
you  were  gone.  Our  denomination,  I  fear,  would  not  sustain 
the  proud  position  it  has  at  present." 

While  three  of  his  children  were  in  Europe,  the  hard-work- 
ing pastor  planned  a  vacation  of  six  months  for  himself. 
When  this  become  known,  farewell  receptions  were  tendered, 
one  on  the  west  side  of  the  Second  Church,  the  other  on  the 
south,  at  the  University.  At  the  former.  Dr.  Reuben  Jeffry 
presented  a  gold-headed  cane  with  the  names  of  the  Baptist 
pastors  and  the  enthusiastic  motto  "  Faithful  until  Death  "  in- 
scribed upon  it.  At  the  latter  the  President  of  the  University, 
after  congratulating  him  upon  his  successful  ministry,  pre- 
sented him  in  the  name  of  prominent  citizens  with  a  gold 
watch.  The  church  prayed  that  he  "  might  be  safely  kept  by 
the  good  providence  of  God  in  all  his  journey,  and  returned  in 
due  time  renewed  in  health  and  strength  to  this  people,  who 
will  anxiously  await  his  coming." 

The  commanding  influence  of  the  church  at  this  time  is 
well  expressedin  a  sermon  preached  by  Dr.  Gr.  W.  Northrup, 
who  supplied  the  pulpit  during  the  pastor's  absence.  "  Who 
can  estimate  the  power  exercised  by  this  church?  I  believe 
there  is  no  church  in  the  United  States  that  is  not  influenced 
somewhat  by  the  example  of  this  church.  Look  at  the  activity 
in  building  good  houses  of  worship  in  this  vicinity,  nearly  all 
of  which  is  due  to  the  spirit  exhibited  by  this  church.  I  am 
not  a  member  of  this  church, — though  I  have  sometimes,  and 
especially  of  late,  wished  I  was, — therefore  I  speak  unpreju- 
dicedly when  I  say  that  I  believe  there  is  no  more  powerful 
church  in  the  United  States  than  this  First  Baptist  Church  of 
Chicago.  And  how  have  you  got  the  power  ?  By  giving — 
and  that  liberally." 

While  abroad,  Dr.  Everts,  who  had  been  left  a  widower  in 


56  THE   LIFE   OF   REV.  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 

1866,  was  married  at  Berlin  to  Miss  Naomi  Townsend,  of 
Brewsters,  New  York.  A  hearty  welcome  awaited  them  in 
Chicago,  and  at  the  first  public  service  an  original  hymn  was 
sung,  with  the  words : 

To  our  homes,  our  hearts,  our  altars, 

To  the  good  we  hope  to  see, 
To  the  faith  that  never  falters, 

Pastor,  now  we  welcome  thee. 

His  old  friend,  Dr.  H.  J.  Eddy,  sent  from  Belvidere,  111., 
these  enthusiastic  words :  "  You  are  welcome  home  again  to 
the  Prairie  State.  That  public  welcome  your  church  gave 
you,  and  the  addresses,  are  altogether  the  best  of  the  kind 
I  have  ever  seen  in  print.  I  am  proud  of  your  church.  It 
cannot  be  equalled  in  this  country.  I  must  congratulate  you 
on  being  the  pastor  of  such  a  church ;  on  your  wonderful 
success  in  b\iildiDg  up  the  churches  and  institutions  of 
Chicago,  and  of  the  Baptists  in  the  great  West ;  on  your 
safe  return  from  the  East;  on  the  reception  you  met,  and 
on  your  restoration  to  the  marriage  relation.  Give  my  best 
respects  to  Mrs.  Everts.  Tell  her  that  when  she  married 
you  she  wedded  the  whole  State  of  Illinois  and  came  into 
possession  of  all  this  Western  country.  Probably,  when  she 
consented  to  marry  you,  she  knew  that  you  belonged  not  ex- 
clusively to  the  First  Church,  or  Chicago,  or  Illinois,  but  to 
the  West.^^  Mrs.  Everts  was  presented  with  a  solid  silver 
coffee  urn,  and  her  husband  with  several  costly  volumes,  at  a 
reception  given  soon  after.  His  welcome  home  was  so  cordial 
that,  though  repeated  invitations  came  from  members  of  the 
Calvary  Church,  Washington,  urging  him  to  return  to  the 
East,  no  one  in  Chicago  knew  of  the  correspondence. 

A  singular  episode  occurred  in  the  spring  of  1870,  when 


GROWINa    UP   WITH   CHICAGO.  57 

the  question  of  the  Bible  in  the  public  schools  was  agitating 
the  West.  Dr.  Everts  was  an  ardent  supporter  of  the 
affirmative  of  that  question,  so  ardent  that  the  Chicago 
Times  expressed  its  regrets  that  Dr.  Everts  had  "  turned 
Roman  Catholic"  in  maintaining  that  religion  is  the  basis 
of  education.  So  the  report  spread  that  the  pastor  of 
the  First  Baptist  Church,  Chicago,  had  "  turned  Roman 
Catholic."  Dr.  A.  S.  Patton  wrote  to  inquire,  "  What  is 
your  purpose,  to  enter  the  priesthood,  or  devote  yourself 
to  building  great  churches?"  The  best  reply  to  this  story 
was  the  organization  that  year  of  another  Baptist  Church  on 
Coventry  Street,  now  the  Ashland  Avenue,  out  of  a  mission- 
school. 

The  following  year  the  denomination  met  in  Chicago  again, 
and  when,  on  October  11,  the  great  fire  occurred,  and  it  was 
learned  that  the  North,  the  North  Star,  and  the  Olivet 
Churches  had  been  burned,  great  anxiety  was  felt  everywhere 
lest  the  Metropolitan  Church  also  was  in  ruins.  Dr.  Richard 
Fuller  wrote  from  Baltimore  on  October  12,  "I  hope  our 
noble  house  is  safe,  but  I  am  still  anxious.  Assure  all  of  my 
love  and  sympathy."  Dr.  W.  C.  Richards  wrote  from  Pitts- 
field  on  October  16,  "I  rejoiced  in  heart  when  I  could  finally 
persuade  myself  that  your  beautiful  temple  was  not  de- 
stroyed." While  the  fire  was  still  raging,  brethren  in  New 
York  City  met,  and  after  expressing  sympathy  and  recom- 
mending "  collections  next  Sunday  at  each  service,"  con- 
cluded as  follows  :  "  The  wish  was  expressed  at  this  meeting 
that  the  relief  you  send  shall  not  be  restricted  to  any  de- 
nomination or  class.  It  was  thought  proper,  however,  that  it 
should  pass  through  the  hands  of  those  whom  you  hiow  as 
Christian  men  in  Chicago,  rather  than  through  the  hands  of 
strangers,  especially  if  we  can  hope  that  by  this  way  you  may, 
in  a  douhh  sense^  give  '  the  bread  of  life'  to  the  perishing. 


58  THE   LIFE   OF   REV.  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 

Packages  of  clothing  sent  to  76  Warren  Street,  or  East 
Ninth  Street,  will  be  forwarded  to  Eev.  Dr.  Everts,  of  Chi- 
cago, free  of  charge."  Dr.  Armitage,  the  chairman  of  the 
committee,  wrote  a  few  days  later,  "  The  design  was  that  all 
money,  clothing,  or  other  goods  sent  to  you  should  be  used 
as  you  thought  most  necessary.  Please  so  use  them."  Like 
action  was  taken  at  Boston  in  response  to  an  appeal  sent  out 
by  Mr.  B.  F.  Jacobs  for  "  at  least  a  part  of  your  contribu- 
tions as  a  churcli  or  school  to  be  sent  to  the  Belief  Committee 
of  the  First  Baptist  Church."  The  Boston  committee.  Dr. 
G.  C.  Lorimer,  chairman,  recommended  that  "  collections  of 
money  and  clothing  be  forwarded  to  Dr.  Everts,  of  Chi- 
cago." Belief  came  to  the  First  Church  from  nearly  every 
State  in  the  Union.  Three  hundred  and  seventy-two  boxes 
were  opened,  and  clothing  was  distributed  from  the  church 
all  winter.  Twelve  thousand  meals  were  supplied  to  the 
hungry  in  the  basen;,ent  of  the  church.  Fifteen  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  seventy  dollars  and  seventy-nine  cents  was 
received  by  the  committee  appointed  by  the  church  to  dis- 
tribute wisely  the  benefactions  of  the  denomination. 

The  day  after  the  fire,  the  pastor  had  written  to  the 
mayor  of  Chicago  proposing  to  establish  upon  the  site  of  the 
North  Star  Mission,  in  the  heart  of  the  burnt  district,  a  base 
for  the  distribution  of  relief.  The  ofi"er  was  accepted  im- 
mediately, the  lumber  was  contributed  by  the  city,  and  the 
large  structure  was  erected,  so  as  to  furnish  a  home  for  the 
mission  without  interfering  with  the  building  of  the  per- 
manent church  edifice.  This  was  the  first  place  of  worship 
provided  in  the  burnt  district,  and  in  a  few  years,  by  the  con- 
tribution of  a  third  of  the  Baptist  Belief  Fund,  and  of  six 
thousand  dollars  raised  largely  in  the  East  by  Bevs.  G.  L. 
Wrenn  and  J.  M.  Whitehead,  a  property  worth  seventy-five 
thousand  dollars  was  realized  out  of  a  piece  of  land  with  a 


GROWING   UP   WITH   CHICAGO.  59 

mortgage  of  seven  thousand  dollars  upon  it.  The  property 
and  history  of  the  North  Star  Mission  are  perpetuated  in  the 
stately  Lasalle  Avenue  Church.  In  a  letter  inviting  Dr. 
Everts  to  be  present  at  the  laying  of  the  corner-stone  of 
this  edifice,  Mr.  J.  H.  Smalley  writes,  "  It  has  been  your 
privilege  to  make  much  of  the  history  of  the  North  Star  and 
the  North  Church  in  former  years.  You  well  know  your 
labors  of  former  years  have  resulted  in  the  organization  of  a 
new  church  on  the  North  side.  What  more  proper  than 
that  you  should  give  us  your  words  of  cheer." 

A  report  of  all  the  moneys  received  and  disbursed  by  the 
committee  of  the  First  Church  was  read  before  a  commission 
of  the  Chicago  Association,  and  the  distribution  was  com- 
mended by  a  unanimous  vote  as  having  been  "  carefully  and 
wisely  made."  Nevertheless,  the  honor  of  being  chosen  as 
the  almoner  of  the  bounty  of  the  denomination  was  the  occa- 
sion of  much  local  criticism.  The  declining  fortunes  of  the 
North  Church,  which  had  received  a  large  amount  from  the 
Relief  Fund,  seemed  to  justify  a  part  of  this  criticism,  but 
before  that  body  disbanded  the  amount  received  from  the 
Relief  Fund  was  invested  in  another  and  more  successful 
organization.  Another  ground  of  complaint  was  found  in 
the  unwillingness  of  the  uon -English  speaking  Baptists  to 
occupy  the  quarters  that  had  been  prepared  for  them  in  the 
new  North  Star  building. 

A  less  painful — an  almost  amusing — episode  of  the  fire  is  pre- 
served in  a  letter  bearing  date  of  October  17,  from  a  prominent 
but  somewhat  visionary  member  of  the  First  Church  :  "  Pew- 
renting  is  an  evil  in  our  churches  which  is  grievous  in 
the  sight  of  God,  is  demoralizing  the  churches,  and  is  depriv- 
ing the  masses  of  the  means  of  grace,  and  thus  leaving  them 
to  irreligion,  vice,  and  final  perdition,  and  it  is  the  great 
hinderance  to  works  of  grace  throughout  the  land.  It  is  an  evil 


60  THE   LIFE   OF   REV.  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 

that  must  and  will  be  reformed,  even  though  it  require  the  de- 
struction of  ten  cities  to  bring  the  churches  to  a  realizing  sense 
of  its  necessity.  I  have  prepared  this  resolution  :  Recogniz- 
ing in  this  fearful  dispensation  of  Divine  Providence  a  judg- 
ment against  our  churches  in  that  they  have  adopted  a  system 
which  excludes  the  common  people  from  participation  in  the 
observances  and  blessings  of  God's  house,  therefore  we  declare 
the  seats  in  our  house  of  worship  free  to  all." 

In  March,  1872,  Dr.  Everts  received  another  urgent  call 
from  the  First  Baptist  Church  in  San  Francisco.  "  There  is 
a  field  of  usefulness  open  here  for  yourself  such  as  has  never 
been  presented  to  you,"  wrote  the  deacons,  and  one  of  them 
added,  in  a  private  note,  "  Humanly  speaking,  I  see  nothing  but 
disbandment  before  us  unless  you  come  to  us."  But  no  field  in 
the  world  appeared  so  promising  at  that  time  as  Chicago,  and  no- 
where, unless  it  be  at  Richmond,  Va.,  was  the  Baptist  denom- 
ination so  clearly  in  the  lead  of  all  others.  While  Presbyterians 
and  Congregationalists  together  counted  but  four  thousand, 
and  Methodists  but  three  thousand  six  hundred  and  forty- 
eight,  the  Baptists  reported  in  the  year  1873  no  less  than 
five  thousand  four  hundred  and  thirty-eight  members.  This 
showing  was  made  possible  by  the  immediate  occupation 
of  fields  devastated  by  the  fire  which  others  had  abandoned. 
That  the  First  Baptist  Church  with  its  one  thousand  members 
was  at  the  head  of  every  good  work,  appears  from  a  letter 
of  the  Telugu  missionary,  Rev.  J.  E.  Clough,  who  writes, 
April  30,  1873,  "  I  wish  all  the  brethren  in  Chicago  were 
awake,  as  the  members  of  the  First  Church  are.  They  then 
would  not  only  take  care  of  the  Telugus,  but  turn  Chicago  as 
they  pleased  within  five  years." 

Dr.  Everts's  views  of  foreign  mission  work  were  brought 
prominently  before  the  denomination  at  this  time  in  a  report 
to  the  Missionary  Union,  which  appeared  as  a  pamphlet  with 


GROWING   UP   WITH   CHICAGO.  61 

the  title,  a  "  New  Departure  in  Foreign  Missions."  In  this  he 
endeavored  to  revive  the  policy  first  advocated  by  Judson  and 
Wayland.  In  his  farewell  address  to  American  Baptists 
on  his  return  to  Burmah,  the  great  missionary  had  urged  that 
"  the  churches  should  assume  more  specific  relation  to  missions 
and  do  some  more  specific  work  in  missions.' '  The  president 
of  Brown  University  had  proposed  that  "  Churches  or  associ- 
ations should  establish  and  support  missions."  These  views 
Mr.  Everts,  as  chairman  of  a  committee  of  conference,  sought 
to  impress  upon  the  executive  committee  at  Boston.  He 
said  :  "  Secretaries  and  agents  maybe  men  of  profound  piety 
and  of  unsparing  industry,  but  if  the  method  of  work  and 
appeal  is  defective,  success  will  be  limited.  The  only  true 
principle  of  benevolence  is  to  bring  giver  and  receiver  together. 
Executive  officers  should  seek  to  increase  the  points  of  imme- 
diate contact  between  the  churches  at  home  and  the  mis- 
sion fields  abroad.  The  question  of  opening  new  fields  should 
be  referred  to  churches,  associations,  or  conventions  for  de- 
cision. Thus  every  new  claim  that  a  general  Board  might 
not  dare  to  assume  of  itself,  some  responsible  body  might  as- 
sume, and  thus,  by  freedom  and  specific  appeal,  resources  might 
be  doubled.  The  original  correspondence,  now  stunning  the 
ear,  and  almost  paralyzing  the  heart  of  a  local  Board,  through 
magnitude,  force,  and  intensity  of  claims,  distributed  to  a  score 
of  cities,  might  become  just  the  amount  of  stimulus  needed 
to  awaken  enthusiasm  and  devotion  in  all  parts  of  the  land. 
Overruling  this  supernatural  order  by  our  commercial  pru- 
dence, technical  rules,  traditional  methods,  and  accepted  or- 
ganizations, is  like  a  navigator  who  insists  on  steering  his 
vessel  by  buoys,  light-houses,  projecting  head-lands,  and 
form  and  course  of  the  clouds,  and  refuses  to  follow  the 
pointing  of  the  stars  and  compass,  across  the  trackless  sea. 
He  may  be  a  safe  coaster,  and  avoid  uncertain  perils  of  the 


62  THE   LIFE   OF   REV.  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 

ocean,  but  he  will  never  cross  the  mighty  deep  or  enter  in- 
viting ports  of  commerce  beyond  his  narrow  vision  and  timid 
enterprise.  A  missionary  society,  without  adventurous  faith, 
may  honor  its  bank  account,  and  make  a  good  exhibit  at  the  end 
of  the  year,  but  can  never  marshal  the  hosts  of  the  churches 
for  the  conquest  of  the  world." 

About  this  time  the  Journal  and  Messenger  made  the  fol- 
lowing comment  upon  an  appeal  of  Dr.  Everts  for  the  Theo- 
logical Seminary  :  "  Every  sentence  showed  the  secret  of  his 
great  administrative  power,  to  which,  and  the  live,  bold  heart 
moving  him,  the  prosperity  of  the  Baptist  cause  in  Chicago 
is  largely  to  be  attributed."  In  one  of  his  letters  he  falls  into 
an  unusual  mood,  and  soliloquizes,  "  I  avail  myself  of  the 
quiet  enjoyed  on  my  birthday  to  write  to  you.  Yet  my  health 
is  better  than  for  several  years  past.  But  as  to  a  rational  and 
Christian  enjoyment  of  life,  I  seem  only  to  have  been  always 
in  a  hurry  getting  ready  for  it=  So  I  fear  it  will  be  till  feeble- 
ness and  pain  come  upon  me  and  the  public  service  that 
ought  to  be  a  constant  joy  and  triumph  is  ended.  I  am  dis- 
satisfied that  I  could  not  more  fully  enjoy  contentedly  and 
happily  the  companionship  of  my  children." 

The  following  suggestions  to  his  son  may  be  of  value  to 
other  young  preachers :  "  Never  enter  the  pulpit  from  any 
social  circle  or  tea-table  without  an  hour's  seclusion  before  the 
service.  Don't  tax  your  nervous  energy  in  private,  or  you 
may  be  less  effective  and  magnetic  in  public.  Warily  re- 
press your  enthusiasm  in  conversation  before  Sabbath  or 
other  services,  and  it  may  glow  out  in  greater  pathos  and 
fervor  in  your  public  service.  If  you  are  too  much  in  Moody's 
meetings  or  in  visitation  through  the  week,  your  sermons  on 
the  Sabbath  will  suffer  for  it.  One's  nervous  state  may  make 
a  difference  of  fifty  per  cent,  in  the  effectiveness  of  a  ser- 
vice.    Study  each  sermon  as  you  would  an  essay  or  an  ora- 


GROWING   UP   WITH   CHICAGO.  G3 

tion.     Let  sermonizing  be  your  chief  study.     Never  fail  in 
skilful  application." 

Soon  after  '•'  the  great  j5re"  an  effort  was  made  to  induce 
the  Indiana  Avenue  Church  to  abandon  its  field  and  unite 
with  another  church.  Against  this  project  Dr.  Everts  re- 
monstrated :  "  I  trust  it  will  not  seem  officious  for  one 
sharing  so  largely  the  cares,  labors,  and  sacrifices  of  founding 
the  Indiana  Avenue  Church  to  address  you  at  this  time. 
Churches  are  wisely  located  in  a  growing  city,  not  so  much 
with  reference  to  present  as  prospective  population,  and  in  a 
few  years  the  population  around  you  will  be  quadrupled.  In 
surrendering  such  a  position,  what  Providences,  prayers, 
sacrifices,  and  successes  seem  abandoned.  Did  God  lead  you  ? 
All  for  naught  ?  How  discouraging  your  surrender  would 
be  to  all  enterprise.  Permanence  encourages  endeavor.  If 
a  church  with  a  property  worth  thirty  thousand  dollars  in 
the  best  field  in  the  city  is  not  an  established  church,  there  is 
no  established  church."  It  was  not  consolidation  with  another 
church  so  much  as  abandonment  of  territory  that  was  objected 
to,  for  the  mother-church  soon  offered  to  unite  with  this  church 
and  occupy  the  field  as  a  branch  for  the  present,  with  a  view 
to  ultimate  removal  of  the  main  body  in  the  same  direction. 

The  wisdom  of  this  plan  and  the  necessity  of  removal 
were  apparent  in  187-4,  when  the  second  great  fire  occurred, 
and  laid  waste  the  beautiful  edifice  of  the  First  Church. 
When  the  flames  had  kindled  upon  the  hallowed  structure, 
several  brethren,  who  had  exhausted  every  effort  to  save  it, 
said  one  to  the  other,  "  Our  house  must  go,  but  let  us  have 
one  more  prayer  within  its  walls."  And  they  bowed  before 
God  in  face  of  the  coming  flames,  while  one  who  had  been 
wont  to  lead  in  the  fire  and  thunder  of  battle  led  the  cry  of 
these  faithful  heroes  before  the  mercy-seat.  Then  rising  to 
their  feet,  they  sang  as  they  retreated  : 


64  THE   LIFE   OF   REV.  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 

*'  From  every  stormy  wind  that  blows, 
From  every  swelling  tide  of  woes, 
There  is  a  calm,  a  sure  retreat, — 
'Tis found  beneath  the  mercy- seat." 

This  holocaust  caused  wide-spread  sorrow,  for  there  was  no 
church  edifice  so  well  known  or  so  much  admired  in  the 
denomination.  The  Chicago  Standard  contained  the  follow- 
ing editorial  tribute  to  the  pastor,  members,  and  house  of 
worship  of  the  First  Baptist  Church :  "It  has  been  the 
scene  of  more  than  one  memorable  gathering,  and  to  West- 
ern Baptists  a  rallying  centre  and  a  beacon.  It  is  hard  to 
pass,  now,  its  charred  and  desolate  walls  without  taking  up 
in  the  very  spirit  of  the  old  prophet  his  touching  lament, 
'  Our  holy  and  our  beautiful  house,  where  our  fathers 
praised  thee,  is  burnt  up  with  fire,  and  all  our  pleasant  things 
are  laid  waste.'  The  part  which  the  church  and  its  present 
pastor  have  had  in  the  denominational  growth  in  this  city 
during  the  last  ten  years  is  well  known.  Four  additional 
churches  may  be  traced,  more  or  less,  directly  to  this  source. 
Since  the  pastorate  of  Dr.  Everts  began,  the  activity,  zeal, 
and  effective  power  of  the  church  in  works  of  Christian 
enterprise  have  probably  been  unexampled  anywhere  in  this 
country.  The  First  Church  and  its  pastor  have  a  title  to 
recognition  unsurpassed  by  any  other.  The  names  of  both 
pastor  and  church  have  been  synonymes  of  Christian  enter- 
prise, while  the  direct  instrumentality  of  the  former  has  been 
the  most  potent  influence  felt  among  us  anywhere  in  the 
West  in  the  department  of  church  growth.  We  think  it 
mainly  due  to  his  influence  that  we  now  hear  so  seldom  of 
church  debts, — an  evil  which  twenty  years  ago  was  sapping 
the  very  life  of  the  denomination.  If  we  have  not  always 
been  prepared  to  follow  his  lead,  we  have  never  doubted  of 
the  large  views    that    inspired  him,  or  of  the  magnificent 


GROWING   UP   WITH   CHICAGO.  65 

impulse  which  many  a  good  work  in  the  West  has  gained 
directly  from  him.  To  him  and  to  his  church  in  their 
present  affliction  we  offer  a  right  hand  of  denominational 
fellowship  and  sympathy,  and  the  assurance  that  many  are 
praying  that  this  hour  of  calamity  may  be  but  the  opening 
of  a  yet  brighter  career."  The  reference  in  the  editorial  to 
the  payment  of  church  debts  calls  attention  to  a  part  of 
his  public  life  while  in  Chicago  which  is  worthy  of  a  special 
chapter. 


(JG  THE   LIFE    OF   REV.  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 


CHAPTER    V. 

IN    THE   SERVICE   OF   THE    DENOMINATION   AT   LARGE. 

The  National  Baptist  anniversaries,  which  were  held  in  Chi- 
cago in  1867,  drew  the  attention  of  the  whole  denomination  to 
the  magnificent  cathedral  on  Wabash  Avenue  and  to  the  pastor 
who  had  dedicated  it  free  of  debt.  He  was  at  once  and  con- 
tinuously during  the  remaining  years  of  his  pastorate  besieged 
by  churches  both  East  and  West  to  do  for  them  what  he  had 
done  for  his  own  people.  He  had  boundless  sympathy  with 
his  brethren  in  the  ministry,  and  fully  appreciated  the  critical 
importance  of  dedication  day,  especially  if,  as  generally  oc- 
curred, a  debt  hung  over  the  finished  structure.  His  people  were 
magnanimous,  and  frequently  voted  him  a  leave  of  absence 
over  the  Sabbath,  but  most  commonly  this  kind  of  service  was 
rendered  during  the  week.  Not  more  than  half  of  these  in- 
vitations were  accepted,  and  these  only  after  repeated  and 
urgent  entreaty  had  been  made,  for,  unless  the  demand  was 
imperative,  unless  the  church  as  a  body  made  the  request,  he 
declined  to  go.  His  earnestness,  enthusiasm,  hopefulness  and 
good  humor  inspired  the  outside  world  on  such  occasions,  but 
he  was  careful  to  meet  the  leading  men  of  the  church  before 
the  service,  to  impress  them  with  the  solemn  responsibility  of 
the  hour  and  to  arrange  with  them  to  be  ready  to  pass  up  and 
down  the  aisles  with  pencil  and  paper  during  the  appeal  for 
subscriptions,  to  secure  names  and  to  announce  the  amounts 
thus  secured.  He  seldom  failed  of  success,  and  then  only  on 
account  of  division  existing  on  the  field.     His  appeals  met 


IN  THE  SERVICE  OF  THE  DENOMINATION  AT  LARGE.   67 

with  a  response  sucli  as  only  the  most  hopeful  dreamed  possi- 
ble. It  was  a  labor  of  love  with  him.  His  receipts  barely 
met  his  expenses.  But  no  man  ever  enjoyed  "  bringing 
things  to  pass,"  to  quote  a  phrase  of  Martin  B.  Anderson's 
which  he  often  used,  better  than  he.  To  raise  a  considerable 
sum  of  money  from  a  community  that  has  already  given  all  it 
thinks  it  can  afford,  an  orator,  a  general,  a  man  of  the  people 
is  needed,  and  such  he  was.  The  letters  received  before  dedi- 
cation tremble  between  hope  and  fear,  while  those  written 
after  the  struggle  was  over  are  exuberant  with  joy. 

These  excursions  from  Chicago  were  begun  soon  after 
his  settlement  in  that  city.  On  March  1,  1861,  in  a  let- 
ter from  Grass  Lake,  Mich.,  the  writer  exclaims,  "  Joyfully 
we  hasten  to  inform  you  that  your  efforts  in  our  behalf  have 
been  successful  in  ridding  us  of  our  entire  indebtedness. 
Within  a  few  minutes  after  you  left  our  whole  debt  was  pro- 
vided for  by  friends  without  distinction  of  class  or  sect.  May 
God's  distinguished  goodness  lead  us  to  repentance  and 
keep  us  humble."  About  the  same  time.  Champaign,  111., 
was  visited,  and  after  a  sermon  in  the  Presbyterian  church, 
resolutions  were  passed  to  the  effect  that  "  No  large  commu- 
nity can  be  considered  complete  in  its  ecclesiastical  appoint- 
ments without  a  Baptist  place  of  worship,"  and  two  thousand 
dollars  was  thereupon  pledged  towards  the  erection  of  an  edifice 
of  brick.  In  the  years  immediately  following,  Howard,  Wis.,  and 
Galena  and  Elgin,  111.,  rejoiced  in  Dr.  Everts's  visit  as  Paul  at 
the  coming  of  Titus.  In  the  fall  of  1867  there  were  calls  from 
many  churches  in  the  Northwest  that  were  in  the  throes 
of  building  enterprises ;  Macon,  Mo.,  Sarnia,  Mich.  Marshall- 
town,  Iowa,  besides  Kewanee,  Bushnell,  Orion,  and  Tuscola, 
111.,  urgently  press  their  claims.  "  We  are  extremely  anxious 
that  you  should  preach  the  sermon.  Please  do  not  dis- 
appoint us.     The   brethren  and  sisters    here   need    the  en- 


68  THE    LIFE    OF    REV.  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 

couragement  that  your  presence  and  good  counsel  would 
afford.  Shall  we  stop  with  building  unfinished  with  a  debt 
of  two  thou.sand  dollars,  or  finish  with  a  debt  of  four 
thousand  dollars,  or  will  you  come  to  dedicate  if  we  finish  ?'' 
These  requests  were  all  declined,  because  still  more  pressing 
letters  were  received  from  other  places.  On  August  29, 
Rev.  W.  H.  Card  says.  "I  am  very  desirous  that  you 
should  preach  the  dedication  sermon  at  Gardner,  from  the 
fact  of  our  former  acquaintance,  and  because  we  shall  have 
quite  a  debt  to  liquidate  on  that  day."  On  October  2  the 
troublesome  burden  of  two  thousand  dollars  was  removed 
from  the  property  by  grateful  and  jubilant  hearts. 

The  property  of  the  Second  Church,  Belvidere,  111.,  costing 
twenty  thousand  dollars,  was  encumbered  with  a  debt  of  eight 
thousand  dollars  when  dedication  day  came  on  September  8, 
1867.  However,  before  the  day  was  over,  five  thousand 
dollars  had  been  pledged.  The  following  letter  finishes 
the  story  : 

"  Belvidere,  September  16,  1867. 
"  Rev.  Dr.  Everts  : 

"  Dear  Sir, — Glory  to  God  !  we  had  a  glorious  meeting  last 
night,  and  good  feeling  prevailed  ;  the  Members  and  Citizens 
Came  up  to  the  Help  of  the  Church  and  subscribed  bounti- 
fully, and  at  last  there  was  a  sound  as  the  rushing  of  mighty 
waters,  and  Andrew  arose  and  added  to  his  subscription  five 
hundred  dollars.  There  was  Tremendous  Cheering,  and  when 
order  was  again  restored,  Elder  Benedict  made  a  proposition, 
that  if  all  in  the  House  would  give  one  dollar  each,  he  would 
assume  the  rest.  Requesting  all  that  would  do  that  to  arise, 
a  large  portion  of  the  Congregation  arose  and  pledges  were 
made  to  Clear  the  amount  on  the  House.  A  happier  minister 
could  not  be  found  than  was  our  pastor;  he  hardly  knew  what 


IN   THE   SERVICE   OF   THE   DENOMINATION    AT   LARGE.      69 

to  say,  and  after  a  few  remarks  by  luiii,  that  good  old  tune 
Coronation  was  sung  by  the  Congregation  with  a  hearty  good 
will,  and  then  came  the  Benediction,  and  a  happier  People 
never  walked  the  aisles  of  a  church  than  went  forth  last  night, 
and  I  say  praise  God  for  His  Goodness  to  this  people. 
"  Yours  in  the  Bonds  of  Love, 

"Jno.  Plane." 

The  church  building  at  Wheaton,  111.,  was  cleared  of  a 
debt  of  one  thousand  dollars,  December  5,  1867,  and  on  the 
24th  day  of  the  same  month  two  thousand  dollars  was  raised 
in  White  Pigeoo,  Michigan.  The  interesting  feature  at  the 
latter  place  was  the  length  of  the  service,  which  continued 
three  hours  and  a  half  It  might  not  have  taken  so  long,  had 
not  the  richest  man  in  the  church  refused  to  give.  The  jubi- 
lation was  all  the  greater  when  the  victory  was  won.  As  the 
Board  of  the  State  Convention  were  present  on  this  occasion, 
the  calls  for  help  from  Michigan  became  numerous.  On 
April  2,  1868,  the  dedication  sermon  was  preached  at  Gales- 
burg,  111. 

Bev.  H.  L.  Morehouse  writes  from  East  Saginaw,  Michi- 
gan, November  30,  1867  : 

"  I  suppose  you  have  many  similar  calls,  but  yet  hope  you 
will  not  pass  over  this.  This  city  is  in  spirit  the  '  Chicago' 
of  Michigan.  The  Methodists  and  Congregationalists  are 
each  building  far  more  costly  edifices,  but  though  we  were 
the  last  to  begin  we  shall  be  the  first  to  occupy,  and  it  is  the 
wonder  of  the  people  how  we  have  got  along  so  rapidly. 
Having  worshipped  for  three  years  in  a  very  small  and  poor 
building,  people  have  in  a  measure  judged  us  by  our  house  ;  but 
we  wish  on  the  day  of  dedication  to  call  them  out  to  the  new 
building,  and  make  an  impression  on  their  heads,  hearts,  and 
pockets,  and  I  have  felt  you  were  just  the  one  to  do  these 


70  THE   LIFE   OF   REV.  W.  ^Y.  EVERTS,  D.D. 

three  things.  Should  you  wish  to  know  anything  about  the 
writer  of  this,  Dr.  Northrup  can  give  it,  and  I  could  heartily 
wish  that  he  might  accompany  you  here.  The  house  has  cost 
twenty  thousand  dollars,  and  there  is  a  floating  debt  of  three 
thousand  dollars,  besides  mortgage  of  six  thousand  dollars." 

March  25  he  writes  again : 

"  I  wish  to  produce  on  the  minds  of  the  business  men  a 
stronger  and  better  impression  of  the  Baptists,  in  order  that 
our  influence  may  be  greater  over  and  through  them.  The 
Baptists  have  had  and  are  having  a  hard  time  of  it  here,  and 
I  hope  our  dedication  services  may  become  a  new  starting- 
point  in  our  career.  I  have  labored  for  three  years,  and  it  will 
cost  me  for  our  building  a  very  large  proportion  of  my  three 
years'  services,  far  more  than  half  of  my  total  income.  Eight 
thousand  dollars  must  come  some  way  on  the  day  of  dedication. 
I  do  not  know  how  to  get  along  without  you,  and  I  do  hope  the 
Lord  will  open  the  way  and  enable  you  to  come  and  help  us  over 
this  hard  place.  There  is  not  a  place  in  this  State  so  important 
as  this,  where  Baptists  are  struggling  to  get  a  sure  foothold,  and 
no  Baptist  church  that  so  much  needs  aid.  Besides,  I  want 
a  little  from  your  experience  in  managing  such  matters,  for 
this  is  my  first  undertaking  of  this  kind,  and  I  hope,  unless 
there  is  less  care  and  labor  connected  with  it,  that  it  may  be 
the  last.  I  anxiously  await  your  reply,  hoping  and  praying 
that  it  may  be  favorable  to  us." 

Then  on  April  8  : 

"I  know  not  what  to  do  without  your  presence.  The  fact 
is,  everything  depends  on  that  day  for  our  prosperity  finan- 
cially, for  we  have  a  debt  of  nine  thousand  dollars,  in  addition 
to  a  mortgage  of  six  thousand  dollars.  The  whole  cost  has 
been  twenty-four  thousand  dollars.  I  have  asked  the  church 
to  make  it  a  matter  of  prayer.  What  shall  I  do  ?  The  church 
has  less  than  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  capital  all  told." 


IN   THE   SERVICE   OF   THE   DENOMINATION    AT   LARGE.       71 

The  prayers  were  heard,  for,  as  Dr.  Morehouse  writes,  De- 
cember 4,  1890  : 

"  Your  father  was  at  his  best,  preached  a  splendid  sermon, 
and  rendered  magnificent  service  every  way.  We  secured  that 
day  in  pledges  ten  thousand  dollars,  to  the  astonishment  of 
everybody." 

More  invitations  were  declined  than  accepted  in  1868  also. 
From  Beaver  Dam,  Wis.,  came  three  letters. 

"  There  is  no  money  to  raise.  We  will  delay  a  week,  if 
need  be,  to  have  you  with  us.  Our  persistence  will  certainly 
assure  you  that  we  are  very  anxious  to  have  you  with  us." 

From  Fall  River  in  the  same  State  comes  word :  "  The 
house  has  cost  five  thousand  dollars.  There  will  be  some  of 
the  '  beggarly  elements  of  the  world'  in  connection  with  the 
dedication."  The  pastor  at  Wauseon,  0.,  boasts:  "We 
have  nearly  completed  a  house  of  worship  of  which  no  village 
need  be  ashamed.  I  send  you  a  photograph  of  it."  One  in 
Red  Wing,  Minn.,  entreats :  "  In  the  scriptures  we  read 
of  one  who  was  importunate  in  her  request,  and  hence  was 
successful."  Other  requests  came  from  Eochelle  and  Twelve 
Mile  Grove,  111.,  and  from  Keokuk,  la.  Whenever  an  invi- 
tation was  accepted,  as  that  to  Woodstock,  111.,  the  favor  of 
God  and  man  attended  the  service. 

On  August  23  at  least  fifteen  hundred  people  thronged 
the  new  edifice  at  Janesville,  Wis.  Says  the  local  paper :  "  It 
was  pretty  generally  understood  that  an  effort  would  be  made 
to  raise  the  debt,  and  consequently  every  one  came  prepared, 
and  there  seemed  to  be  a  generous  rivalry  as  to  who  should 
do  the  most.  Twelve  thousand  five  hundred  dollars  was  sub- 
scribed, and  the  finest  edifice  for  religious  worship  in  the 
State  was  dedicated  free  of  debt."  As  at  Janesville,  so  at 
Fort  Wayne,  Ind.,  where  the  next  effort  was  made,  instead 
of  asking  compensation  for  his  toil,  the  preacher  requested 


72  THE   LIFE   OF   REY.  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 

the  people  to  give  a  thank-offering  to  the  struggling  Fifth 
Baptist  Church  in  Chicago.  "  We  are  greatly  indebted  to 
you,"  writes  Gr.  L.  Stevens,  from  Fort  Wayne.  "  The  dedi- 
cation left  a  good  impression  upon  the  public  mind.  All  are 
encouraged." 

On  October  25  the  house  of  the  Ninth  Street  Church, 
Cincinnati,  which  had  been  rebuilt  at  an  expense  of  ninety-four 
thousand  dollars,  was  dedicated.  The  plan  of  pastor  F.  M. 
Ellis  did  not  include  the  removal  of  the  whole  debt  of 
thirty  thousand  dollars,  but  twelve  thousand  five  hundred 
dollars  was  secured  before  the  day  was  over.  Rev.  S.  F. 
Holt,  of  State  Street  Church,  Rockford,  111.,  writes,  November 
2,  1868,  "  The  cost  has  considerably  exceeded  our  estimates, 
and  we  are  in  debt  now  about  fifteen  hundred  dollars.  But 
the  interest  and  spirit  of  the  brethren  have  also  increased,  and 
the  society  has  unanimously  voted  to  try  to  clear  off  the 
entire  indebtedness."  On  December  2,  after  the  struggle 
was  over,  he  adds,  "  Our  new  house  is  well  filled  morning  and 
evening.  Congregations  have  nearly  doubled  at  once.  We 
have  just  purchased  a  new  organ.  Your  work  on  dedication 
day  promises  to  be  of  lasting  benefit." 

Upon  his  return  from  Europe,  in  the  summer  of  1869,  letters 
poured  in  upon  him  from  Knobnoster,  Mo.,  Peru  and  Evans- 
ville,  Ind.,  and  from  Covington,  Ky.  "  Having  learned  that 
Grod  made  you  unusually  successful  in  securing  means  for  the 
cause  of  Christ,"  writes  one,  and,  "  as  usual  on  such  occasions, 
we  will  need  a  little  begging,  for  which  you  have  a  good 
reputation,"  writes  another.  But  all  his  strength  was  needed 
to  attend  to  the  cares  which  had  accumulated  during  his 
long  absence.  However,  in  the  year  1870  this  form  of  ser- 
vice was  renewed.  From  Mendota,  111.,  with  a  debt  of  seven 
thousand  dollars,  came  the  first  call  for  aid.  Pastor  W.  M. 
Haigh  writes,  February  16,  "  These  are  fearful  times  in  which 


IN    TBE   SERVICE    OF   THE   DENOMINATION   AT   LARGE.       73 

to  face  debts  on  churches.  I  am  now  at  work  to  bring  up 
the  courage  and  consecration  of  the  brethren  to  the  rio-ht 
point.  Ask  your  people  to  pray  for  us.  Their  interest  in  your 
labors  here  would  reconcile  them  to  your  absence."  The  times 
were  good  when  Dr.  Everts  arrived  and  the  debt  was  lifted. 

On  September    19,   Rev.    J.    T.    Sunderland,  of  Omaha, 
writes,  "  Your  father  has  been  here   and  done  us  a  grand 
service."     This  refers  to  the  dedication   of  the  Tabernacle 
Church,  when  the  debt  of  five  thousand  dollars,  to  the  sur- 
prise of  every  one,  was  cancelled.     The  same  date  is  on  a 
letter  from  Y.  A.  Elliott,  of  the  First  Church  of  the  same 
city.     "  Our  indebtedness  is  fifteen  thousand  dollars.     Our 
members  number  about  one  hundred,  are   mostly  poor  and 
exhausted.     Our  creditors,  who  have  been  lenient,  are  now 
moving,  and  will  be  able  to  obtain  an  order  of  sale  about  the 
first  of  January.     We  are  negotiating  a  loan  of  ten  thousand 
dollars,  which  will  pay  liens,  and  then  we  rely  on  raising 
a  subscription   of   from    seven    thousand    to   ten    thousand 
dollars,  to  pay  ofi"  the  floating  debt,  and  finish  the  main  audi- 
torium and  dedicate.     A  sale  of  the  property  would  com- 
pletely dishearten,  if  not  disband,  us  as  a  church.     We  may 
be  compelled  to  ask  your  further  counsel   and  assistance." 
On  October  13,  W.  H.  Churchill  writes,  "  The  good  done  by 
your  labor  here  is  not  lost,  and  a  much  better  brotherly  feel- 
ing exists.     Great  good  will  come  out  of  it,  I  trust  and  pray. 
We  want  of  you,  my  dear  brother,  three  thousand  five  hun- 
dred dollars,  and  if  you  raise  the  amount  for  us  our  church 
property  is  saved.     I  saw  and  have  since  learned  the  deep 
interest  you  took  in  us.      To  save  the  church,  I  will  give 
five  hundred  dollars  more,  besides  the  five  hundred  dollars 
already  given.     If  the  house  can  be  saved,  you  are  God's 
instrument  to  do  it,  I  trust.     My  dear  pastor,  I  can  write  no 
more."     In  response  to  these   appeals,   arrangements   were 


74  THE   LIFE   OF   REV-  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 

made  with  Rev.  N.  F.  Ravlin,  who  often  seconded  such 
efforts,  to  go  to  Omaha  and  see  what  could  be  done.  The 
happy  results  of  this  mission  are  recorded  in  the  following 
letter : 

''Omaha,  November  28,  1870. 
"  W.  W.  Everts,  D.D. : 

'■^Dear  Brother^ — The  work  is  done,  and  done  nobly.  I 
arranged  union  meetings  for  all  day  last  Sabbath.  I  preached 
in  the  Tabernacle  in  the  morning,  made  a  brief  appeal  for  all 
to  come  up  to  the  work  at  the  First  Church  in  the  evening, 
but  took  no  subscription  at  the  morning  meeting.  In  the 
evening  the  lecture-room  at  the  First  Church  was  filled^  and 
after  preaching,  I  began  raising  the  subscription,  determined 
to  hold  on  till  the  whole  amount  was  made  up.  God  was 
manifest  in  the  congregation.  An  excellent  spirit  prevailed. 
The  first  Sunday  and  diying  the  week  we  raised  three  thou- 
sand five  hundred  dollars.  At  this  union  meeting  last  Sunday 
evening  five  thousand  one  hundred  and  eighty  dollars  was 
secured,  making  a  sum  total  of  over  eight  thousand  five  hundred 
dollars.  The  thing  looked  fearfully  blue  at  one  time,  and  to  save 
it  from  a  hopeless  failure  I  took  the  responsibility  of  pledging 
five  hundred  dollars  from  Chicago.  The  moral  effect  of  this 
pledge  was  grand,  and  from  that  the  work  went  on.  This 
subscription  of  eight  thousand  five  hundred  dollars  does  not  in- 
clude the  fifteen  hundred  dollars  pledged  from  Boston.  You 
can  scarcely  imagine  the  change  that  has  come  over  the  spirits 
of  the  brethren  of  the  First  Church.  Everybody  is  rejoicing 
and  praising  the  Lord  for  what  is  done. 
"  Affectionately,  yours, 

"  N.  F.  Ravlin." 

The   Baptist   Church   in    Winona,    Minn,   was   delivered 
from  the  bondage  of  debt  in  the  summer   of  1870.     Next 


IN   THE   SERVICE   OF   THE   DENOMINATION    AT   LARGE.       75 

the  pastor  of  the  First  Church  in  Detroit,  wrote :  "  We  have 
been  waiting  with  anxiety  to  hear  from  you ;  we  cannot  excuse 
you,"  and  this  persuasive  appeal  led  to  the  extinction  of  a 
debt  of  three  thousand  dollars.  In  Cambridge,  111.,  there  was  a 
similar  debt  on  a  house  costing  nine  thousand  dollars.  "  Yet 
we  trust  in  God,"  they  wrote,  November  22,  and  their  trust 
was  not  put  to  shame,  for  all  the  money  needed  was  subscribed 
amid  a  perfect  jubilee. 

Richmond,  Ind.,  was  then  visited.  In  this  chief  city  of  east- 
ern Indiana,  Rev.  J.  P.  Agenbroad,  under  appointment  by  the 
Home  Mission  Society,  had  gathered  in  an  engine-hall  a  congre- 
gation numbering  at  first  a  short  score.  The  next  move  was  into 
an  academy  building,  then  into  still  larger  rooms.  At  this  time 
the  first  small  payment  was  made  on  a  lot  and  a  revival  that 
added  twenty-one  members  by  baptism  guaranteed  the  remain- 
ing payments.  Special  encouragement  was  next  received  from  a 
legacy  of  four  hundred  dollars  in  the  will  of  a  sister  in  Yin- 
cennes.  To  secure  this  legacy  a  beginning  must  be  made  in 
building  a  house  within  a  year  after  the  will  was  probated. 
The  church  voted,  "  Trusting  in  God,  we  will  now  attempt  to 
build  a  house  of  worship,"  and  broke  ground.  Two  days  later 
the  legacy  would  have  been  forfeited.  The  new  building  was 
entered  January  3,  1869,  and  immediately  a  revival  added 
fifty-seven  members  by  baptism.  When  the  main  building 
was  ready  for  dedication  the  church  numbered  one  hundred 
and  forty-five  members.  The  total  cost  had  been  eleven 
thousand  dollars,  of  which  amount  three  thousand  dollars  re- 
mained unpaid.  "  If  out  of  debt,"  wrote  the  pastor,  Novem- 
ber 17, 1870, "  we  will  be  on  the  highway  to  success.  Although 
we  have  already  strained  wellnigh  to  a  break,  we  want  to  try 
our  utmost." 

After  a  perfectly  successful  eff'ort,  he  writes  again  :  "  The 
moral  impression  has  been  grand,  glorious,  sublime.     It  has 


76  THE   LIFE   OF   REV.  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 

taken  everybody  by  surprise  and  given  us  an  immense  advan- 
tage here. 

The  Baptist  cause  in  Leavenworth,  Kansas,  Rev.  Winfield 
Scott,  pastor,  passed  through  a  long  and  painful  struggle,  a 
struggle  that  aroused  the  keenest  interest  of  the  denomination. 
The  house  was  the  most  expensive  in  the  city.  Several  times  it 
had  been  advertised  for  sale,  and  it  seemed  as  though  it  must 
be  abandoned  before  it  was  finished.  Finally,  Deacon  Chase 
of  Boston  came  to  the  rescue  with  a  generous  pledge  and  the 
great  building  was  completed.  At  the  last  moment,  the  task 
of  raising  the  debt  of  five  thousand  dollars  that  still  re- 
mained was  undertaken,  and  Leavenworth  was  reached  at 
midnight  of  a  Saturday  in  February,  1871.  Misunderstand- 
ings were  found  to  exist  that  threatened  to  defeat  any  sub- 
scription. However,  a  fair  beginning  was  made  in  the  morn- 
ing, the  difficulties  were  arranged  in  the  afternoon,  and  in  the 
evening,  to  the  surprise  of  church,  congregation,  and  com- 
munity, the  whole  debt  was  lifted  and  the  long  imperilled 
cause  was  saved. 

The  Euclid  Avenue  Church,  of  Cleveland,  0.,  started  as  a 
mission,  but  a  mission  of  such  wealth  that  one  hundred  and 
seven  thousand  nine  hundred  dollars  had  been  expended  on 
its  property  within  a  few  years.  "  We  are  behind  in  our 
finances  about  twenty  thousand  dollars,"  wrote  pastor  S.  W. 
Duncan,  February  18,  1871.  "We  were  sanguine  that  no 
special  efi'ort  would  be  required  to  raise  the  needed  funds  at 
the  dedication.  We  hope  to  raise  at  least  a  part  of  it.  I 
trust  that  no  ordinary  circumstances  will  deter  you  from  being 
with  us.  You  will  confer  a  personal  favor  upon  me  by  doing 
so.  You  have  been  interested  in  our  enterprise  from  its  be- 
ginning, and  I  want  you  to  be  identified  with  its  consumma- 
tion. Our  trustees  cannot  relinquish  the  idea  of  hearing 
you."     After  conference  with  the  officers  and  friends  of  the 


IN    THE    SERVICE    OF    THE    DENOMINATION    AT    LARGE.        77 

church  on  Saturday  evening,  it  was  agreed,  though  with  hesi- 
tancy and  fear,  to  attempt  to  raise  the  entire  debt  of  twenty- 
six  thousand  eight  hundred  and  eighty-one  dollars.  The 
preacher  read  the  hymn  beginning,  "  To  Thee  this  temple  we 
devote,"  and  the  pastor  read  the  psalm  beginning,  "  How 
amiable  are  Thy  tabernacles,  0  Lord  of  Hosts."  "  I  would 
rather  have  my  name  on  the  subscription  paper  about  to  be 
passed,"  was  the  appeal,  "  than  to  have  it  on  a  marble  pillar." 
The  reporter  says,  "  the  speaker  kept  walking  from  one  side 
of  the  platform  to  the  other,  inciting  the  congregation  in  a 
cheerful  and  effective  manner  to  give."  In  less  than  fifty 
minutes  eighteen  thousand  dollars  was  pledged,  and  when 
this  had  been  noised  abroad,  in  the  evening  many  others 
came  in  who  joined  in  the  final  and  successful  effort  to  lift 
the  remaining  nine  thousand  dollars.  The  enthusiasm  and 
joy  rose  higher  than  in  the  morning  The  people  lingered  to 
exchange  congratulations,  smiles  alternating  with  tears  as 
their  thoughts  reverted  from  their  great  deliverance  to  the 
diflaculties  through  which  they  had  passed.  The  whole  com- 
munity seemed  to  share  in  the  surprise  and  triumph.  Imme- 
diately several  churches  in  the  city,  provoked  by  the  example 
of  so  young  a  church,  arranged  to  pay  off  their  debts.  "  They 
have  furnished  the  first  instance,  we  believe,  in  our  city,"  an 
editor  said,  "  where  a  church  has  been  entirely  completed  and 
paid  for  before  being  dedicated." 

On  the  8th  of  March,  1871,  the  church  at  Long  Island 
City,  N.  Y.,  was  dedicated.  Within  two  years  the  organism 
had  grown  from  nine  to  one  hundred  and  ten  members,  and 
under  stimulus  from  without,  rather  than  of  their  own  impulse, 
they  erected  a  building  far  beyond  their  means.  Pr.  Everts 
was  not  surprised  that  the  debt  of  ten  thousand  dollars  could 
not  be  lifted  under  such  circumstances.  Whenever  a  com- 
munity plans  a  structure,  he  found  that  the  community  was 


78  THE   LIFE   OF   REV.  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 

willing  to  pay  for  it,  but  when  outside  friends  were  allowed, 
as  in  this  case,  to  expend  the  money,  there  was  no  assurance 
that  the  expenditures  would  be  met  by  the  community. 

On  June  3  an  entreaty  comes  from  Tuscola,  111. :  "  You 
are  the  representative  of  our  denomination  here ;  we  cannot 
command  the  same  congregation  here  to  hear  any  other 
minister.  Dedication  will  make  a  critical  point  in  our  his- 
tory. Let  me  ask  you,  for  Christ's  dear  sake,  for  our  church's 
sake,  which  has  struggled  so  long,  and,  last  and  least,  for  the 
sake  of  your  unworthy  brother  who  writes  this."  If  circum- 
stances prevented  attendance  at  Tuscola,  arrangements  could 
be  made  to  go  to  Wyoming,  in  the  same  State.  Here  a  little 
church  of  forty-five  members  had  been  encouraged  by  the 
gift  of  lots  from  citizens  of  the  town  to  erect  a  house  costing 
three  thousand  dollars.  Although  they  had  secured  but  one- 
third  of  that  amount  before  the  day  of  dedication,  they  were 
a  happy  band  before  they  went  home  that  night. 

On  the  14th  of  July  the  pastor  of  the  new  town  of  Greeley, 
Col.,  writes,  at  the  suggestion  of  Dr.  E.  E.  L.  Taylor,  "  We 
are  far  away  from  anything  and  anywhere.  There  is  a  debt 
of  two  thousand  five  hundred  dollars."  The  local  paper,  in 
its  account  of  the  afi'air,  says,  "  Last  Sunday  was  the  most 
important  day  Greeley  has  seen.  The  people  began  to  gather 
at  an  early  hour.  It  was  a  cheerful  scene,  and  it  was  difficult 
to  imagine  that  only  eighteen  months  before  the  ground  where 
this  church  stands  was  a  part  of  the  Great  American  Desert, 
from  which  not  a  human  being  nor  habitation  could  be  seen. 
The  prospects  of  raising  so  large  a  sum  seemed  to  those  best 
informed  of  the  condition  of  our  people  exceedingly  gloomy. 
We  have  not  yet  raised  a  full  crop.  New  houses  have  been 
but  recently  built,  and  many  are  more  or  less  in  debt.  Dr. 
Everts  stands  erect  and  firm,  and  his  whole  appearance  is 
dignified.     In  form  and  feature  he  resembles  General  Sher- 


IX  THE  SERVICE  OF  THE  DENOMINATION  AT  LARGE.   79 

man.  Subscriptions  were  offered  so  liberally  that  everybody 
was  encouraged.  In  the  evening  only  five  hundred  dollars 
more  were  needed,  and  the  Methodist  and  Presbyterian 
ministers  contributed  to  place  the  first  completed  church  in 
Greeley  out  of  debt.  No  motives  of  a  worldly  nature  could 
have  prompted  such  unselfish  contributions."  The  preacher 
wrote  home  :  "  We  were  full  of  fears.  The  pastor  was  sick, 
and  leading  members  were  away,  but  the  people  did  nobly, 
and  the  entire  debt  was  raised." 

A  new  building  had  been  talked  of  in  Jackson,  Mich.,  since 
1864,  when,  in  1870,  Mr.  B.  G.  Mosher  agreed  to  pay  his 
subscription  of  three  thousand  dollars  by  putting  in  the 
foundation  and  the  walls  up  to  the  roof,  if  the  brick  was 
furnished  him.  This  cost  him  twice  the  amount  of  his  sub- 
scription. In  the  spring  of  1871  the  building  was  enclosed 
and  the  floor  laid,  and  sixteen  thousand  dollars  were  borrowed 
to  finish  and  furnish.  In  December  the  money  was  gone,  but 
the  house  was  not  complete.  The  most  hopeful  were  dis- 
couraged. However,  a  few  gentlemen  were  found  who  were 
willing  to  advance  the  money  necessary  to  complete  the  struct- 
ure. The  debt  had  now  increased  to  twenty-six  thousand 
dollars  on  a  total  cost  of  seventy-one  thousand  dollars. 
There  were  two  high  towers,  and  seats  were  provided  for  six- 
teen hundred  persons.  The  dedication  drew  ministers  and 
people  from  surrounding  towns.  The  magnificent  edifice  was 
crowded  with  people.  "  I  hope  that  the  debt  may  be  liqui- 
dated this  day.  You  are  not  willing  to  let  a  half-dozen  Bap- 
tists do  it  all.  I  know  you  are  not,  for  I  see  it  already.  Now, 
will  you  not  close  up  this  little  church  debt  ?  This  building 
is  not  for  the  church  alone,  but  for  your  city."  Thus  ran 
the  appeal.  Some  gave  lots  of  land,  one  gave  a  horse  valued 
at  two  hundred  dollars,  another  a  gold  watch,  some  gave  for 
their  children,  others  pledged  for  their  Sunday-school  classes, 


80  THE    LIFE    03   REV.  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.P. 

until  seventeen  thousand  eight  hundred  and  fifty-seven  dol- 
lars and  twenty-three  cents  had  been  offered.  In  the  evening 
the  amount  remaining  was  pledged,  and  a  beginning  was  made 
in  a  subscription  for  a  church-bell. 

Another  call  came  soon  from  New  York  State.  "  The 
church  in  Binghamton  will  hold  fifteen  hundred  people.  It 
has  cost  eighty  thousand  dollars,  with  a  debt  remaining  of 
seventy  thousand  dollars.  I  have  long  noticed  your  great 
success  all  through  the  West  in  raising  money  on  such  occa- 
sions, and  am  exceedingly  anxious  to  have  you  present." 
Then,  later,  "  I  am  deeply  anxious  that  you  should  preach. 
I  shall  continue  to  ask  God  to  incline  your  heart  to  come. 
We  are  in  the  midst  of  a  precious  work  of  grace."  At 
length,  January  30,  1872,  "  I  am,  indeed,  thankful  that  you 
have  finally  concluded  to  come."  So  pleaded  Pastor  Wright, 
and  he  came,  too  late  to  consult  and  form  plans  before  ser- 
vice, but  by  a  wonderful  struggle  forty  thousand  dollars  were 
pledged  on  one  day. 

On  February  18  his  services  were  required  at  Salem,  0., 
a  town  of  five  thousand  inhabitants.  The  Baptist  church 
had  once  occupied  a  leading  position,  but  became  divided  by 
the  anti-slavery  agitation.  The  house  of  worship  was  offered 
for  sale  and  was  bought  in  by  infidels.  At  length  the  church 
revived  sufficiently  to  begin  another  and  better  building. 
They  succeeded  in  enclosing  it,  but  then  were  unable  to 
proceed  further.  However,  a  new  pastor  came  at  last,  who 
succeeded  in  finishing  the  building.  A  debt  of  three  thou- 
sand five  hundred  dollars,  large  for  so  small  a  church,  hung 
over  the  completed  structure.  The  dedication  was  a  great 
surprise.  Though  the  largest  contribution  was  but  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  dollars,  and  that  by  the  pastor,  the  entire  bur- 
den was  removed.  The  struggle  was  greater  because  the 
wealthiest  man,  from  whom  much  had  been  expected,  stayed 


IN   THE   SERVICE   OF   THE   DENOMINATION   AT   LARGE.       81 

away  in  the  morning  and  refused  to  give  in  the  evening,  thus 
disheartening  every  one,  until  his  wife,  failing  in  her  per- 
suasions, and  rebuking  the  perilous  delay,  took  off  her  gold 
watch  and  chain  and  sent  it  to  the  pulpit  as  her  sacrifice. 
Fully  two  hundred  persons  contributed,  giving  and  doublino- 
their  gifts,  until  they  had  achieved  a  glorious  triumph. 
There  were  tears  and  shouts  of  joy  after  the  exciting  effort 
was  over.  The  church  was  at  the  head  again.  Its  position 
in  the  community  was  established.  All  faces  beamed  the 
next  day  with  victory  and  the  air  was  full  of  congratulations. 

Siege  was  laid  on  the  22d  day  of  the  same  month,  Wash- 
ington's Birthday,  at  Allen's  Station,  Mich.  Here  was  a 
house  costing  nine  thousand  dollars,  the  finest  in  Hillsdale 
County.  It  was  the  pet  project  of  the  town  and  of  the  rich 
farming  district  surrounding  it.  The  church-members  were 
few  and  generally  in  humble  circumstances.  The  building 
.  committee  were  non-professors.  Many  were  despondent  at 
the  large  deficit  of  four  thousand  dollars,  but  every  one 
came  to  the  dedication  services.  By  their  education  and 
in  their  habits  of  thinking  the  congregation  had  not  been  ac- 
customed to  large  giving.  But  they  were  patient  during  the 
appeal,  and  before  adjournment  one  hundred  and  fifty  persons 
had  contributed  three  thousand  dollars,  and  when  the  subscrip- 
tion was  re-opened  in  the  evening  they  added  five  thousand 
dollars  more,  and  the  building  committee  assumed  the  rest. 
The  victory  was  due  to  numbers  and  to  unity. 

On  the  4th  of  April,  Dr.  Everts  returned  to  New  York 
State,  where  the  Central  Church  of  Syracuse,  H.  J.  Eddy, 
pastor,  was  overwhelmed  with  a  debt  of  thirty-five  thousand 
dollars.  The  pastor  had  written,  "  We  want  to  raise  twenty 
thousand  dollars,  and  leave  the  rest  on  mortgage."  Such  was 
the  interest  in  the  dedication  that  more  than  fifty  ministers 
were  present,   among  them  three  ex-pastors  of  the  church. 

6 


82  THE   LIFE   OF   REV.  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 

"  After  an  hour  of  lively  bidding,  we  found  that  sixteen  thou- 
sand five  hundred  dollars  had  been  pledged.  The  former  pas- 
tors assisted  in  the  call  for  pledges,  and  we  found  at  the  close 
that  we  had  secured  twenty-six  thousand  dollars.  A  great 
burden  was  lifted  from  my  heart,"  wrote  the  pastor.  "  God 
bless  the  First  Baptist  Church  of  Chicago  for  consenting 
to  the  coming  of  their  pastor  to  our  assistance  in  this  great 
emergency.  He  not  only  saved  us  from  crippling  embarrass- 
ment, but  he  made  friends  for  the  scorched  interests  of  Chi- 
cago, one  of  whom  sent  by  him  one  thousand  dollars  for  the 
salvation  of  one  of  the  churches  and  for  the  University.  The 
following  Sunday  the  subscription  was  increased  seven  thou- 
sand dollars,  so  that  the  debt  is  virtually  extinguished.  How 
we  sang  the  doxology  !  " 

That  summer  a  letter  from  Vernon,  Ind.,  told  of  the  "  very 
heavy  load  for  a  few  of  us  to  get  as  near  through  as  we  have," 
and  another  from  Adams,  N.  Y.,  told  of  being  "behind  about 
eight  thousand  dollars,  but  we  have  good  purses  on  which  to 
draw,"  but  a  third  from  Waukesha,  Wis.,  secured  the  next 
effort,  which  was  made  July  24,  1872.  The  house  had  cost 
but  twenty  thousand  dollars,  although  with  its  one-hundred- 
and-fifty-foot  spire  it  was  said  by  the  townspeople  to  be  the 
finest  in  the  State.  On  the  evening  before  the  dedication  there 
was  a  meeting  for  consultation,  where  all  were  encouraged 
to  expect  a  favorable  result  on  the  morrow.  The  debt  of 
sixty-five  thousand  dollars  was  largely  reduced  after  the 
morning  sermon.  The  afternoon  was  spent  in  rallying  the 
forces,  and  in  the  evening,  in  answer  to  much  prayer,  the  whole 
mountain  was  removed.  The  venerable  Dr.  Boyd's  subscrip- 
tion of  twenty-five  dollars  was  at  once  courteously  paid  by 
Colonel  Dunbar,  who  was  not  a  member  of  the  church.  The 
large  crowd  seemed  loath  to  disperse  after  the  evening  service, 
and  spent  much  time  in  exchanging  congratulations  over  the 


IN   THE   SERVICE   OF   THE   DENOMINATION   AT   LARGE.       83 

victory.  "  The  First  Baptist  Church,  Chicago,  deserve  many 
thanks  for  loaning  its  pastor.  Should  it  suffer  temporarily 
through  these  frequent  drafts  on  its  generosity,  or  even  should 
it  with  its  pastor  soon  cease  from  its  labors,  they  have  both  an 
enviable  record  in  the  work  of  church  extension."  Thus 
wrote  Rev.  J.  W.  Fish  on  this  occasion. 

The  14th  day  of  September,  1873,  was  devoted  to  Anoka, 
Minn.,  where  the  lumbermen  proved  that  the  beautiful  church 
was  not  too  expensive  for  them  to  pay  for,  and  the  21st  at 
Green  Bay,  Wis.  Here  the  church  numbered  but  thirteen 
members,  and  seventeen  thousand  dollars  was  still  due  on  the 
building.  Tuesday  evening  was  spent  with  the  little  church, 
and  Wednesday  and  Thursday  with  the  sister  churches  at 
Fort  Howard  and  Lapeer.  All  promised  to  be  present, 
although  they  had  not  been  accustomed  to  help  each  other. 
At  the  dedication  all  classes  of  the  community  were  present. 
"  The  speaker  expressed  his  surprise,"  the  paper  said,  "  that 
in  so  large  and  thriving  a  city  as  Green  Bay  a  church  of 
this  denomination  had  not  before  been  established."  He  was 
sure  that  many  families  had  been  kept  away  by  the  fact 
that  there  was  no  Baptist  church  here.  A  denomination 
which  is  second  only  in  numbers  and  second  to  none  in 
power  should  have  a  church  in  every  first-class  town.  Then 
Dr.  Everts  made  some  remarks  touching  the  danger  and 
annoyance  of  the  incubus  of  a  church  debt.  Even  Roman 
Catholics  responded  ;  men,  women  and  children  and  strangers, 
whose  home  nobody  seemed  to  know,  vied  with  each  other  in 
giving.  With  such  a  spirit  manifest  in  the  community,  and 
with  the  gift  of  memorial  windows  from  Chicago  Sunday- 
schools,  it  was  not  strange  that  the  appeal  was  successful. 

In  the  year  1874,  two  churches,  costing  twenty  thousand 
dollars  each,  were  dedicated,  the  one  at  Fair  Haven,  Vt., 
among  the  slate  quarries,  the  other  at  Franklin,  Pa.,  among 


84  THE   LIFE   OP   REV.  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.l). 

the  oil  wells.  Times  were  hard,  but  the  debts  of  thirty-two 
thousand  dollars  and  seven  thousand  dollars  respectively 
were  quickly  paid.  About  this  time  still  another  costly 
structure  was  dedicated  at  Kankakee,  111.,  where  a  Brother 
Gamble  invested  six  thousand  dollars  in  the  enterprise,  and 
thus  made  possible  the  liquidation  of  the  large  debt  of  thir- 
teen thousand  dollars.  At  Bay  City,  Mich.,  the  deficit  was 
still  larger,  amounting  to  twenty-six  thousand  dollars  on  a 
property  that  had  cost  seventy-two  thousand  dollars.  Of  this 
amount  sixteen  thousand  dollars  had  been  contributed  by 
Mrs.  MacMaster,  of  Toronto,  formerly  Mrs.  Fraser,  and  five 
thousand  dollars  each  by  two  daughters  of  James  Fraser. 
Inspired  by  such  generosity,  the  congregation  contributed  on 
dedication  day  fully  twenty  thousand  dollars. 

There  was  scarcely  a  dedication  in  and  about  Chicago  during 
these  years  when  the  services  of  Dr.  Everts  were  not  in  de- 
mand. His  presence  was  felt  to  be  a  power  in  all  such  enter- 
prises that  was  sure  to  arouse  public  spirit.  He  was  always 
willing  to  sacrifice  himself  for  such  occasions  that  appeared  to 
him  second  to  none  in  importance.  He  thought  of  churches 
planted  out  of  debt  that  would  spread  and  spread  like  banyan 
trees  until  the  earth  should  be  full  of  churches  of  Christ.  He 
saw  the  advantage  of  making  an  appeal  at  the  crisis  of  the 
enterprise  when  every  one's  sympathy  was  aroused.  He  de- 
lighted in  the  intellectual  and  moral  benefit  conferred  upon 
a  community,  and  anticipated  in  each  instance  the  out- 
break of  a  genuine  revival  of  religion  such  as  that  which 
followed  the  dedication  of  Solomon's  Temple. 

He  raised  large  sums  of  money  in  1876  at  Topeka,  Kan., 
in  1877  at  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.,  and  in  1878  at  Elgin, 
111.,  and  at  Laporte,  Ind.  In  1879,  the  first  year  of  his 
settlement  at  Jersey  City,  he  brought  joy  to  Nassau,  N.  Y., 
and  to  South  Plainfield,  N.    J.,  and  removed  an    old  debt 


IN   THE   SERVICE    OP   THE   DENOMINATION   AT   LARGE.       85 

of  eight  thousand  dollars  from  the  church  in  Providence, 
R.I.,  of  which  his  son  was  pastor.  A  similar  service  for  his 
son  he  performed  in  the  year  1887  at  Haverhill,  Mass., 
where  he  secured  pledges  for  thirteen  thousand  dollars. 

In  seeking  for  an  explanation  of  the  almost  invariable 
success  of  Dr.  Everts  in  raising  money,  notice  must  be 
taken  not  only  of  his  warm  sympathy,  contagious  enthusiasm, 
patient  confidence,  and  eloquent  speech,  but  also  of  certain 
practical  measures  which  he  always  adopted.  The  pre- 
liminary services  were  shortened,  so  that  the  appeal  could  be 
made  before  the  audience  was  weary.  Large  subscriptions 
were  asked  for  first,  and  to  insure  success  the  first  contribution 
was  placed  as  high  as  one-tenth  of  the  whole  amount.  A 
committee  was  kept  busy  in  the  aisles  to  gather  and  announce 
subscriptions,  while  expert  secretaries  frequently  encouraged 
the  audience  by  reporting  the  total  amount  reached.  Appeals 
were  made  to  different  organizations  in  the  church,  and  advan- 
tage was  taken  of  any  remarkable  display  of  generosity  to 
arouse  the  more  conservative  portion  of  the  congregation.  He 
was  always  ready  with  an  expedient  for  any  emergency,  and  if 
the  morning  service  dragged  he  would  predict  victory  for  the 
evening,  and  as  soldiers  following  a  general  who  never  lost  a 
battle,  the  congregations  usually  proved  worthy  of  the  confi- 
dence of  their  leader. 

Dr.  Everts's  work  in  dedicating  churches,  and  in  church 
extension  generally,  is  thus  referred  to  by  Dr.  G.  C.  Lorimer, 
in  a  letter  dated  November  13,  1890 :  "  Dr.  Everts's  career 
marked  a  change  in  the  entire  policy  of  the  Baptists  in 
America.  I  do  not  say  that  it  was  wholly  due  to  him,  for 
that  would  be  unjust  to  others, — nor  do  I  care  to  affirm  that 
there  may  not  have  been  times  when  he  pushed  it  too  far, — 
but  I  do  aflfirm  that  it  was  more  distinctly  marked  and  formu- 
lated (so  to  speak)  in  him,  and  probably  received  from  him 


86  THE   LIFE   OF   REV.  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 

its  earliest  and  most  persistent  expression  and  inspiration. 
The  policy  I  refer  to  is  that  of  church  extension  and  denomi- 
national (not  sectarian)  aggressiveness.  His  first  pastorate 
occurred  at  that  period  of  transition  in  the  history  of  the 
Baptists  from  a  condition  of  comparative  apathy  and  defen- 
siveness  to  a  time,  happily  not  yet  ended,  of  extreme 
activity  and  advancement.  Dr.  Ijjverts,  from  the  beginning 
to  the  end,  was  the  incarnation  of  self-denying,  intense,  im- 
passioned, independent,  irrepressible  leadership." 


FIERY   TRIALS.  87 


CHAPTER  VI. 

FIERY   TRIALS. 

While  thus  engaged  in  assisting  other  pastors,  he  was 
compelled,  after  the  second  Chicago  fire,  which  occurred  in 
the  year  1874,  the  year  after  the  panic,  to  lead  his  scat- 
tered and  distressed  people  in  another  effort  to  build  a 
meeting-house.  The  church  had  to  begin  Ufe  over  again. 
There  was  but  little  insurance  money,  and  the  congregation 
who  had  just  contributed  to  the  completion  of  the  tower  of 
the  old  structure  were  now  compelled  with  crippled  resources 
to  face  another  large  building  operation  on  a  different  site. 
The  settlement  of  the  new  location  was  rendered  more  diffi- 
cult, because  some  of  the  member  were  in  favor  of  consoli- 
dation with  a  sister  church.  The  rejection  of  this  proposition 
involved  the  loss  of  valued  members,  but  it  enabled  the 
great  body  of  the  church  to  move  together  to  the  territory 
held  by  the  Indiana  Avenue  branch.  On  June  5,  1875,  at 
the  northwest  corner  of  old  Camp  Douglas,  where  Dr.  Everts 
had  officiated  in  the  year  1862  as  chaplain  of  a  regiment 
enlisted  for  three  months  to  guard  prisoners  from  the  South, 
the  corner-stone  was  laid.  The  rear  building  was  finished 
in  September  and  the  main  building  in  April,  1876. 

Of  the  dedication,  Dr.  Arthur  Edwards  writes  as  follows  in 
the  Northwestern  Christian  Advocate  : 

"Visitors  to  Chicago  before  the  fire  well  remember  the 
costly,  spacious,  convenient,  massive  edifice  belonging  to  the 
First  Baptist  Church,  Rev.  Dr.  W.  W.  Everts,  pastor.    During 


88  THE   LIFE   OF   REV.  "W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 

its  life  it  was,  perhaps,  the  nonpareil  temple  for  Protestant 
uses  on  the  continent.  Like  so  many  of  our  churches,  it 
went  down  into  ashes,  and,  like  so  many  other  bands  of 
worshippers,  the  people  have  wandered  from  place  to  place, 
comparatively  poor,  and  without  heart  or  adequate  courage 
to  hope  for  another  permanent  house  of  worship.  Sweet, 
however,  are  the  uses  of  adversity,  since,  when  nothing  else 
seemed  potent  to  keep  that  society  together,  its  common  his- 
tory and  fellowship  in  suffering  made  the  people  dear  to  each 
other.  Dr.  Everts,  like  General  Taylor,  never  knows  when 
he  is  whipped.  In  the  face  of  desolation,  crippled  resources, 
prophecies  of  failure,  reproaches  hurled  in  the  teeth  of  his 
faith,  and  with  burdens  sufficient  to  crush  Atlas  down  to  the 
earth,  he  began  the  work  of  rebuilding.  Last  Sunday  revealed 
the  completeness  of  his  victory,  and  we  again  heard  the  invin- 
cible pastor  present  to  his  people  a  finished  temple  that 
excels  even  the  one  which  before  the  fire  called  forth  the 
admiration  of  all.  In  beauty,  in  varied  modern  appoint- 
ments, and  for  earnest  working  purposes,  the  church  is  a 
model.  We  have  never  seen  a  more  chastened,  united,  self- 
sacrificing,  and  triumphant  assembly  than  that  which  so 
gladly  and  humbly  brought  their  offerings  before  the  Lord 
last  Sunday.  Dr.  Everts's  sermon  was  a  clear,  forcible,  elo- 
quent, effective  presentation  of  the  truth  that  all  that  is 
sacred,  permanent,  inspiring,  and  valuable  to  humanity  is  asso- 
ciated with  the  house  of  God.  The  discourse  was  worthy  of 
print  in  gold.  We  most  heartily  congratulate  all  concerned, 
and  every  Christian  in  the  Northwest  is  thus  concerned." 

The  first  year  in  the  new  house  was  a  continual  harvest- 
time,  and  more  than  one  hundred  members  were  added  to  the 
roll.  The  spiritual  life  of  the  church  was  broad  and  deep. 
But  the  miscalculation  of  the  architect  and  the  failure  of  the 
contractor  left  the  people  with  a  debt  of  eighty  thousand 


FIERY   TRIALS.  89 

dollars.  A  bright  incident  in  those  dark  days  is  thus  described 
in  a  letter  written  in  the  spring  of  1878:  "  Sunday  morning 
I  presented  the  peril  of  the  church  as  immediate.  An  inci- 
dent occurred  in  the  evening  that  seemed  so  wonderful  as  to 
impress  all,  and  may  have  almost  turned  our  destiny  by  its 
influence  on  others.  Remember,  from  Friday  evening  the 
church  were  waiting  in  intense  suspense, — mauyin  importu- 
nate prayer.  Sunday  morning  Deacon  Hammond's  face 
shone,  and  he  said  '  The  Lord  will  save  us.'  Yet  the  money 
subscription  was  moderate  and  left  disappointment.  Meantime 
my  old  friend  Greenough,  whom  I  baptized  and  married  in 
New  York,  who  has  been  in  R,io  de  Janeiro  for  the  last 
thirteen  years,  and  has  been  locating  an  invalid  son  in  Col- 
orado, arrived  in  Chicago  late  Saturday  evening.  Sunday 
evening  he  set  out  to  find  our  church,  and  was  directed  to 
Plymouth  Church,  Pastor  Everest,  then  to  another  church, 
and  only  at  half-past  eight,  wearied,  himself  and  wife  reached 
our  church.  At  the  close  of  service  they  came  forward 
and  greeted  us  with  the  affection  of  brother  and  sister.  After 
looking  about  a  while  and  admiring  the  church  and  observing 
we  had  no  organ,  he  remarked,  quietly,  '  When  you  get  ready 
to  put  in  your  organ,  let  me  contribute  the  first  thousand 
dollars.'  I  was  amazed,  and  inquired,  Would  you  allow  us  to 
use  it  for  present  necessities  ?  and  he  consented.  This  event 
had  a  marked  effect  upon  the  church,  and  proved  a  point  of 
my  sermon  that  we  cannot  limit  the  assets  of  the  kingdom. 
As  long  as  Moses  and  the  pillar  of  cloud  are  with  us,  there 
can  be  no  danger." 

But  greater  trials  were  before  them.  To  be  sure,  prayer- 
meetings,  Sunday-school,  and  preaching  services  were  largely 
attended,  but  there  was  no  strength  to  meet  more  than  the 
interest  of  the  debt,  part  of  which  soon  became  due,  and  the 
sale  of  the  property  was  threatened.     Extracts  from  letters 


90  THE   LIFE   OF   REV.  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 

written  during  those  most  trying  days  in  the  history  of  the 
First  Church  and  its  pastor,  show  that  though  they  were  in 
the  furnace,  God  was  with  them.  "  September  21,  1878, 
church  affairs  are  at  a  great  crisis.  We  may  succeed.  All  is 
in  suspense,  but  there  is  much  prayer.  I  am  preaching  great 
foundation  doctrines.  September  23,  we  found  we  could,  by 
great  struggle  and  sacrifice,  pay  off  thirty  thousand  dollars  of 
the  indebtedness,  provided  the  remaining  fifty  thousand  dol- 
lars can  at  once  be  placed  at  six  per  cent.  We  can  take 
twenty-five  thousand  dollars.  If  we  are  helped  to  carry 
twenty-five  thousand  dollars  more,  the  future  may  be  brighter 
than  the  past  If  not — church  dishonored,  perhaps  dissolved. 
Prayer-meetings  over  this  crisis  are  deeply  affecting.  If  we 
are  saved,  we  shall  be  blessed  by  this  trial." 

On  February  2  and  9,  1879,  subscriptions  were  taken  by 
this  people  trained  to  sacrifice,  and  the  terrible  load  was  re- 
duced to  thirty  thousand  dollars.  This  was  done  without  the 
encouragement  of  a  pastor,  for  the  service  of  Dr.  Everts 
had  closed  with  the  previous  year. 

During  this  ministry  he  had  received  in  the  church  eighteen 
hundred  persons,  and  had  raised  among  his  own  congregation 
an  average  of  twenty- five  thousand  dollars  a  year.  "  It  is  not 
an  overstatement,"  Mr.  J.  M.  Vanderlip  writes  to  the  Western 
Recorder,  "  to  say  that  no  Baptist  preacher  of  this  generation 
has  done  more  effective  work  for  the  denomination  than  what 
Dr.  Everts  did  in  the  Northwest  during  his  twenty  years 
pastorate  in  Chicago."  Dr.  Henson  published  the  following 
estimate  of  his  predecessor  :  ''  His  pastorate  covered  a  score 
of  years,  and  those  the  most  eventful  and  fruitful  of  all  the 
church's  history, — years  in  which  the  church  won  a  national 
fame,  and  came  to  the  very  front  as  a  leader  in  all  great  denom- 
inational enterprises.  During  his  administration  the  church 
built  what  was  the  most  massive,  and  possibly  the  most  costly, 


FIERY   TRIALS.  91 

Baptist  house  of  worship  in  America,  and  paid  for  it,  in 
addition  to  giving  away  tens  of  thousands  of  dollars  to  aid 
other  struggling  churches  in  Chicago  and  vicinity.  Under 
the  same  adventurous  and  sagacious  leadership,  after  the 
Wabash  Avenue  building  had  been  destroyed  by  fire,  the 
present  noble  structure  was  erected  at  Thirty-first  Street  and 
South  Park  Avenue,  which  is  one  of  the  most  capacious, 
complete,  and  beautiful  specimens  of  church  architecture  in 
the  city  of  Chicago.  The  location  at  the  time  of  its  selection 
was  '  away  out  on  the  prairie,'  and  so  the  project  of  building 
there  was  scouted  as  absurd  by  not  a  few  short-sighted  critics, 
and  the  panic  of  1873,  following  closely  on  the  disastrous  fire 
of  1871,  did  seem  for  a  time  to  put  the  church  in  mortal 
peril ;  but  now  the  location  that  was  regarded  as  preposterous 
is  in  the  very  heart  of  the  most  magnificent  residential  quar- 
ter of  the  city,  and  the  church,  with  its  threatened  perils 
safely  passed,  has  entered  upon  its  second  half-century  with 
prospects  of  usefulness  and  possibilities  of  power  for  which 
all  Baptist  hearts  should  be  devoutly  thankful.  The  man  to 
whom,  under  God,  more  than  any  other  man,  the  denomina- 
tion is  indebted  for  all  this,  is  Dr.  W.  W.  Everts,  who,  for  so 
long  a  stretch  of  years,  presided  over  the  church,  and  guided 
its  aff'airs,  and  with  his  own  irrepressible  enthusiasm  inspired 
it  to  undertake  great  enterprises,  and  to  make  heroic  sacrifices. 
"  He  came  here  in  1859,  at  the  age  of  forty-five,  at  the 
meridian  of  his  fame.  Nor  did  his  fame  decline  during  the 
long  stretch  of  his  twenty  years'  ministry  in  this  Western 
metropolis.  His  stalwart  faith,  his  leonine  courage,  and  his 
boundless  enthusiasm  prominently  fitted  him  for  successful 
leadership.  And  he  led  superbly.  No  church  ever  had  a 
more  daring  or  devoted  leader  than  the  First  Baptist  Church 
of  Chicago,  in  the  person  of  Dr.  Everts.  And  no  pastor 
ever  had  a  more  loyal  and  loving  following  than  Dr.  Everts 


92  THE   LIFE   OF   REV.  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 

found  in  the  membership  of  that  same  First  Baptist  Church. 
And  yet  his  heart  was  too  large  for  its  love  to  be  bounded  by 
the  church  he  served. 

"  So  far  from  seeking  selfishly  to  centralize  all  available 
Baptist  forces  at  the  point  where  his  own  head-quarters  were, 
as  many  a  pastor  is  tempted  to  do,  he  was  almost  too  ready  to 
imperil  his  own  position  with  the  view  of  seizing  and  holding 
important  strategic  points  in  the  regions  round  about  him.  He 
believed  in  planting  new  churches,  even  if  he  had  to  deploy 
the  very  flower  and  chivalry  of  his  own  ^church  to  do  it ;  the 
very  crucial  test  of  a  pastor's  devotion  to  the  cause  of  Christ. 
He  was  a  typical  Chicagoan  in  his  breadth  of  view,  energy 
of  action,  and  boundless  ambition, — only  his  was  a  sanctified 
ambition,  whose  highest  aim  was  God's  glory  in  man's  salva- 
tion. Here  in  Chicago  he  did,  perhaps,  the  greatest  work  of 
his  life.  He  was  here  in  the  prime  of  his  powers,  and  in  the 
very  crisis  of  our  denominational  history,  and  what  Sheridan 
was  at  Winchester,  that  Everts  was  in  Chicago.  He  led  the 
way  and  saved  the  day,  and  gave  the  Baptist  forces  a  vantage- 
ground  from  which,  please  God,  they  shall  never  be  dis- 
lodged." 

Among  the  speakers  at  a  farewell  reception  was  Bev.  Dr. 
Byder,  who  had  labored  by  his  side  from  the  beginning  of  his 
ministry  in  Chicago.  "  Dr.  Everts  has  a  vigorous  organiza- 
tion, and  his  whole  being  appears  to  be  the  incarnation  of  an 
earnest  purpose.  He  seemed  to  me  for  several  years  to  be 
almost  ubiquitous.  What  his  denomination  asked  of  him  he 
was  ready  to  do, — East  or  West,  North  or  South.  It  is  not 
given  to  many  men  to  have  so  wide  an  opportunity  for  good. 
And  in  how  many  hearts,  over  a  large  portion  of  our  country, 
has  this  kindling  enthusiasm  found  a  response.  Of  churches 
built,  of  schools  strengthened,  of  souls  rescued  from  sin,  the 
record  is  surely  large  and  most  worthy.     See  you  not  the 


FIERY   TRIALS.  93 

goodly  sheaves  that  he  bears  in  his  arms  and  in  his  heart  ? 
Who  of  us  has  a  better  return  for  his  labor  ?  Who  of  us 
more  truly  lives  in  organized  institutions  and  in  individual 
life,  as  the  result  of  twenty  years  of  labor  ?"  Before  closing 
the  record  of  his  life  in  Chicago,  reference  should  be  made 
to  Dr.  Everts's  labors  in  behalf  of  education,  secular  and 
religious,  in  that  city. 


94  THE   LIFE   OF   REY.  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 


CHAPTER    VII. 

THE   OLD    UNIVERSITY   OF   CHICAGO. 

•'  A  work  of  danger  and  distrust 

You  treat,  as  one  on  fire  should  tread, 
Scarce  hid  by  treacherous  ashen  crust." 
Horace^s  Odes  (Covington's  Translation),  Book  ii,,  1,  6-8. 

The  old  University  of  Chicago  originated  in  the  brain  of 
Stephen  A.  Douglas.  One  day  in  1853  he  was  walking  over 
his  lake  shore  property  in  that  city  with  his  friend  Dr.  Eddy, 
a  Presbyterian  minister,  when  he  broached  to  him  the  idea 
of  founding  a  university.  "  If  you  will  accept  the  presidency 
of  that  institution,  I  will  give  ten  acres  of  land  as  a  founda- 
tion for  it."  Dr.  Eddy  accepted  the  offer  for  himself,  but 
found  that  the  feeling  against  the  senator  for  securing  the 
passage  of  the  Kansas  and  Nebraska  Bill,  which  was  enacted 
in  May,  1854,  was  so  intense  among  Presbyterians  that  their 
co-operation  in  the  proposed  enterprise  could  not  be  secured. 
While  this  offer  was  still  pending.  Judge  Douglas  mentioned 
it  at  a  political  gathering  at  the  Tremont  House  to  Charles 
Walker.  During  a  pause  in  the  conversation  around  the 
table,  Douglas  turned  to  Mr.  Walker  and  said,  "  By  the  way, 
Mr.  Walker,  I  have  determined  to  have  a  college  at  Cottage 
Grove.  I  have  made  an  offer  of  ten  acres  to  the  Presbyte- 
rians through  Dr.  Eddy,  but  they  do  not  seem  to  be  doing 
much  about  it,  and  will  probably  fail  to  meet  the  conditions. 
As  I  am  half  a  Baptist,  I  will  make  the  same  offer  to  you  for 
the  Baptists,  if  Dr.  Eddy  fails."     Mr.  Walker  arose,  paced 


THE   OLD   UNIVERSITY   OP   CHICAGO.  95 

the  room  a  few  minutes  in  his  nervous  way,  and  finally  said, 
"  Mr.  Douglas,  I  think  we  will  take  that  offer.  I  will  let 
you  know  this  afternoon."  Not  long  after,  Mr.  Walker's  pas- 
tor was  sent  to  Douglas  with  letters  from  Thomas  Hoyne,  J. 
W.  Sheahan,  and  Daniel  Cameron,  commending  him  for  not 
joining  in  the  manifesto  of  Chicago  ministers  against  the  sen- 
ator. The  visit  was  successful,  and  in  July,  1856,  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  University  was  effected,  the  legal  incorporation 
dating  from  January  30,  1857.  On  his  return  to  Chicago, 
Douglas  attended  the  First  Baptist  Church,  whose  pastor.  Dr. 
Howard,  was  a  warm  friend  of  the  new  enterprise,  and  whose 
members  had  already  shown  their  interest  in  higher  education 
by  subscribing  seven  thousand  dollars  to  the  college  at  Alton. 
The  most  prominent  Baptist  laymen  in  the  inauguration  of 
this  movement  were  Charles  Walker,  Levi  D.  Boone,  Samuel 
Hoard,  and  John  K.  Pollard,  with  whom  were  associated 
James  H.  Woodworth,  William  B.  Ogden,  and  William 
Jones. 

The  first  agent  of  the  institution  was  Kev.  J.  B.  Olcott, 
and  the  first  president  was  Mr.  Walker's  former  pastor.  This 
arrangement,  however,  was  understood  to  be  temporary,  to 
cease  when  the  buHding  operations  were  completed.  With 
this  understanding,  Mr.  Olcott  succeeded  in  securing  sub- 
scriptions amounting  to  sixty  thousand  dollars  in  the  West, 
outside  of  Chicago.  As  these  subscriptions  were  not  payable 
at  once,  they  were  anticipated  by  placing  a  mortgage  of 
twenty-five  thousand  dollars  on  the  property  for  the  purpose 
of  completing  the  south  wing  of  the  proposed  structure. 
This  loan  was  a  weak  place  in  the  foundation  of  the  insti- 
tution. 

When  Dr.  Everts  arrived  in  Chicago,  in  the  fall  of  1859, 
he  frequently  heard  on  the  street  that  the  University  would 
be  sold  out  and  fall  into  the  hands  of  some  other  denomina- 


96  THE   LIFE   OF   REV.  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 

tion,  but  he  replied,  "  It  will  never  be  given  up.  The  Bap- 
tists will  retain  it."  The  panic  of  the  year  1857  had  pre- 
vented the  payment  of  subscriptions,  but  the  chief  obstacle 
in  the  path  of  the  financial  secretary  was  the  condition  of 
the  large  subscriptions  obtained  in  Chicago  by  the  presi- 
dent. These  had  been  given  with  so  many  reservations 
that  they  were  not  considered  binding,  and  Mr.  Olcott  was 
frequently  bluffed  and  laughed  at  for  attempting  to  collect 
them.  Totally  discouraged  on  account  of  the  lack  both  of 
money  in  the  treasury  and  of  prestige  in  the  presidency,  Mr. 
Olcott  became  convinced  that  without  a  change  of  adminis- 
tration the  University  would  be  lost.  The  president  said 
that  he  was  willing  to  take  the  financial  agency  and  leave  his 
office  for  another,  but  his  friends  objected  to  any  change  in 
the  administration,  and  jrhile  they  claimed  for  the  president 
all  the  successes,  they  charged  all  the  failures  to  the  secretary, 
who  soon  after,  in  despair  of  the  enterprise,  ended  his  noble 
service.  It  was  a  dark  hour  in  the  history  of  the  University. 
The  most  hopeful  had  become  despondent.  There  was  a  debt 
of  thirty  thousand  dollars,  upon  which  the  interest  had  not 
been  paid.  Subscriptions  had  ceased,  and  yet  nothing  was 
being  done  to  avert  destruction. 

Thoroughly  persuaded,  by  acquaintance  with  the  professors 
and  by  the  lamentable  experience  of  Mr.  Alcott,  that  the  main 
difficulty  in  the  way  of  success  would  be  removed  if  the  chief 
office  were  vacated.  Dr.  Everts  invited  the  president  to  his 
home  in  the  summer  of  1863,  and  in  a  long  conversation 
pleaded  with  him  to  resign  his  office  and  thus  permit  others 
to  save  the  University.  He  was  assured  of  the  distinction 
of  being  one  of  the  founders  of  the  institution,  and  that  it 
was  no  discredit  to  surrender  a  place  that  not  six  men  in  the 
denomination  could  fill.  He  was  further  promised  a  trip  to 
Europe  or  any  other  honor  he  might  wish.     As  he  was  un- 


THE   OLD   UNIVERSITY   OF   CHICAGO.  97 

successful  in  this  personal  interview,  Dr.  Everts  began  to  urge 
upon  members  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  that  as  the  presi- 
dent had  assumed  so  serious  and  important  a  trust  he  should 
faithfully  discharge  it  or  relinquish  it.  In  full  Board  meeting 
he  said  he  feared  the  result  if  prompt  action  was  not  taken  to 
remove  the  debt.  One  of  the  trustees  replied,  "  I  should 
rather  have  reverses  or  destruction  overtake  the  University 
than  have  the  president  suffer." 

Thus  the  lines  were  drawn,  when  Rev.  M.  G.  Clarke  was 
induced,  in  the  summer  of  the  year  1863,  to  take  charge  of 
the  finances  of  the  imperilled  institution.  "  No  man,"  wrote 
Dr.  Clarke,  "  so  inspired  and  cheered  on  the  work  to  push  the 
great  enterprise  at  least  to  safety  as  yourself.  Such  were  your 
convictions  of  the  great  value  of  the  institution  to  liberal 
learning  and  religion,  to  the  Northwest  and  to  our  common 
country,  and  especially  to  our  denomination,  that  you  put  its 
well-being  above  your  own  personal  interest  or  the  interests 
of  any  single  individual."  Dr.  Clarke  soon  saw  the  need  of 
doing  something  to  awaken  enthusiasm,  and  he  proposed  the 
erection  of  the  main  building.  This  proposition  seemed  like 
madness  to  some,  but  it  was  ardently  supported  by  Dr.  Everts, 
who  finally  secured  the  passage  by  the  trustees  of  a  motion 
instructing  the  financial  secretary  to  put  in  the  foundations  of 
the  main  building,  but  holding  him  responsible  for  the  collec- 
tion of  money  suflficient  to  pay  for  the  work  as  it  progressed. 
On  these  terms  fifty-five  thousand  dollars  were  secured  to 
erect  the  main  building,  twenty-two  thousand  dollars  for  a 
telescope,  and  thirty-five  thousand  dollars  for  an  observatory, 
and  a  grand  total  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars, 
chiefly  by  the  exertions  of  Prof.  A.  H.  Mixer,  was  raised 
during  the  year.  "  My  poor  success,"  wrote  Prof.  Mixer, 
"  was  due  largely,  as  I  felt,  to  the  constant  encouragement  as 
well  as  direct  aid  received  through  you." 


98  THE    LIFE    OF    REV.  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 

The  story  of  the  telescope  is  worth  telling  in  Prof.  Mixer's 
own  words :  "  Before  beginning  the  work  I  went  to  Mr.  J. 
Young  Scammon,  had  several  interviews  with  him,  and  finally 
secured  from  him  a  pledge  to  build  a  tower  for  the  telescope, 
if  I  would  secure  the  means  to  buy  it.  He  afterwards  gen- 
erously promised  in  addition  to  take  care  of  the  head  astron- 
omer. These  items  together  amounted  to  some  fifty-five 
thousand  or  sixty  thousand  dollars.  In  the  meantime  I  had 
got  on  the  track  of  Mr.  Clark's  great  telescope.  Before  say- 
ing anything  about  it  to  the  committee,  I  went  very  quietly 
to  Michigan  University  and  saw  Dr.  Brlinnow,  to  get  his  en- 
dorsement of  it.  He  ridiculed  the  idea  of  our  getting  it,  but 
pronounced  it  the  prize  of  the  world.  I  returned  to  Chicago 
and  to  the  committee  quite  crazy  on  the  subject,  and  begged 
of  them  to  send  a  committee  at  once  to  Boston,  empowered  to 
buy  if  we  could  get  it.  None  sympathized  with  my  zeal 
and  haste  or  saw  its  importance.  In  this  state  of  suspense 
and  agony  with  me,  nearly  two  weeks  thus  passed  before  I 
could  get  any  one  started.  Mr.  Hoyne  was  at  last  going  to 
New  York  and  Boston  on  business,  and  he  did  the  work  for 
us.  You  know  how  we  barely  escaped  losing  it  by  a  single 
day,  an  hour  almost.  So  impressed  was  I,  and  I  alone, 
that  I  wrote  a  letter,  which  I  put  into  the  pocket  of  Mr. 
Hoyne  just  as  he  was  leaving  for  the  East,  and  begged  him 
to  read  it  on  the  way.  It  was  to  urge  him  not  to  stop  in 
New  York  over  Sunday,  as  I  knew  he  intended  to  do. 
This  letter,  as  he  afterwards  wrote  me,  decided  him  to  go 
on  and  decide  the  fate  of  Chicago  in  regard  to  the  great 
telescope." 

The  Board  of  Trustees,  meantime,  had  unanimously  passed 
an  order  to  compromise  with  contributors  of  long  standing 
who  could  not  pay  their  subscriptions  in  full.  This  action 
offended    one    of  the    trnstees,  Mr.  Wm.  Jones,    who    had 


THE   OLD    UNIVERSITY   OF   CHICAGO.  99 

advanced  money  on  these  old  notes,  and  when  he  was  asked 
to  subscribe  for  the  main  building,  he  oflfered  to  give  twelve 
thousand  dollars,  on  condition  that  the  mover  of  that 
resolution  to  compromise  should  resign  his  seat  in  the 
Board.  To  this  Dr.  Everts,  the  offender,  cheerfully  assented, 
but  Prof  Mixer,  with  Mr.  Jones's  consent,  retained  the  res- 
ignation in  his  control  until  Mr.  Jones  pledged  him  it  should 
not  be  called  for ;  he  "  would  let  it  pass." 

Dr.  Everts  let  everything  pass  for  the  sake  of  the  institu- 
tion, and  obtained  leave  of  absence  from  his  church  in  the 
fall  of  the  year  186 J:  for  the  purpose  of  raising  in  New  York 
City  a  fund  of  twenty-five  thousand  dollars  for  the  endowment 
of  the  Greek  Chair.  After  he  had  made  a  good  beginning,  he 
left  the  completion  of  the  work  in  the  hands  of  others,  while 
he  returned  to  attend  to  the  building  of  a  new  church  edifice 
in  Chicago.  But  no  one  else  was  able  to  complete  the  task, 
as  appears  from  the  following  letter  which  he  received  on 
November  18 : 

"  We  are  impressed  with  the  great  importance  of  your  re- 
turn to  New  York  with  Professor  Mixer,  and  completing  the 
work  began  by  you  there  on  behalf  of  the  University  of  Chi- 
cago. It  seems  to  us  you  should  not  hesitate  for  one  moment. 
It  is  important  that  you  act  now  and  energetically.  We  know 
not  what  changes  may  take  place. 

"  We  are  respectfully,  in  behalf  of  the  University,  your 
friends  and  collaborateurs, 

J.  Young  Scammon, 
E.  B.  McCagg, 
C.  N.  Holden, 

J.  H.  WOODWORTH." 

Among  his  old  friends  in  New  York  he  was  received  with 
much  favor,  and  names  that  are  as  familiar  as  household  words 


100  THE   LIFE   OF   REV.  W.  AV.  EVERTS,  D.D. 

to  those  representing  struggling  Baptist  interests — Wyckoff, 
Bishop,  Pratt,  Phelps,  Gellatly,  Davis  and  Stout — are  found 
among  the  contributors  to  the  Greek  Chair.  One  or  two  sub- 
scriptions failed,  so  that  the  total  amount  received  fell  two  thou- 
sand dollars  short  of  the  full  endowment.  The  cash  collected 
for  the  endowment  reached  Chicago  as  the  main  building  was 
nearing  completion.  Winter  was  at  hand,  the  roof  must  be 
added,  and  a  loan  must  'be  made,  or  the  structure  would  be 
seriously  injured.  Under  these  circumstances  the  Board  of 
Trustees  authorized,  during  the  absence  of  Dr.  Everts,  a  tem- 
porary loan  of  fourteen  thousand  dollars  from  the  Greek  Chair 
Fund.  When  the  magnificent  Douglas  Hall,  modelled  after 
the  Smithsonian  Institution,  was  completed,  the  assets  of  the 
institution  had  increased  one  hundred  thousand  dollars,  but  the 
liabilities  had  also  increased  from  thirty  thousand  dollars  to 
fifty  thousand  dollars.  But  with  the  oflPer  of  Wm.  B.  Ogden 
to  put  up  the  north  wing  on  condition  that  this  debt  should 
be  lifted,  Messrs.  Clarke  and  Mixer  devoted  themselves  to  their 
task  with  redoubled  energy,  and  had  secured  in  good  pledges  all 
but  ten  thousand  dollars  of  the  amount  required  to  make  good 
the  ofi'er  of  Mr.  Ogden,  when  the  Board  of  Trustees  by  a  ma- 
jority of  one  dismissed  Prof.  Mixer  and  let  Dr.  Clarke  go. 

This  action  was  a  death-blow,  and  from  that  hour  the  Uni- 
versity began  to  sink.  There  were  occasional  movements 
afterwards,  but  they  were  only  death-struggles.  There  was  a 
frequent  change  of  doctors,  but  the  patient  was  none  the  bet- 
ter, but  rather  grew  worse.  By  that  small  majority  of  one 
the  University  was  doomed.  It  continued  to  exist,  because 
the  insurance  company  was  willing  to  compound  interest  upon 
interest  upon  the  valuable  property.  But  confidence  was 
gone.  The  friends  of  the  president  had  removed  the  officers 
whose  magnificent  success  they  feared,  and  in  fearing  it  they 
betrayed  a  spirit  that  often  destroys  but  never  saves  great 


THE   OLD   UNIVERSITY   OF   CHICAGO.  101 

enterprises.  In  reviewing  this  catastrophe  a  few  years  later,  one 
of  its  chief  victims  writes  to  Dr.  Everts :  "  The  firm  mainte- 
nance of  my  conviction  cost  me  my  position  with  a  family  on 
my  hands.  What  of  the  great  enterprise  ?  Must  it  not  be  saved 
at  any  cost  ?  No,  not  at  the  cost  of  the  sacrifice  of  moral  prin- 
ciples. I  have  faith  to  believe  that  the  whole  will  come  to 
naught  if  the  good  people  will  only  let  it  alone.  You  have 
been  supporting  your  enemies  while  they  have  been  fighting 

you.     You  speak  of  the  change  of  sentiment  of  Dr. . 

Don't  trust  it  for  a  moment.  He  is  too  weak  to  make  the 
sacrifice  which  the  cause  of  righteousness  would  have  cost. 
Let  the  University  die  of  starvation,  as  it  will  if  all  only  let 
it  alone.  It  may  be  that  not  a  vestige  of  all  our  hard  work 
will  then  remain,  but  as  sure  as  God  lives,  honest  hearts  and 
helping  hands  will  be  left  to  then  take  up  the  work."  Dr. 
Everts  was  not  yet  utterly  discouraged,  as  a  reflection  jotted 
down  at  the  time  of  this  revolution  indicates  :  "  I  do  not  see 
how  I  could  have  pursued  a  different  course,  and  have  been 
faithful  to  my  convictions  and  to  the  University.  I  fear  it 
will  not  rise  as  rapidly  to  intellectual  greatness  and  power  as 
we  had  hoped." 

The  reference  to  Dr.  Everts  "  supporting  his  enemies"  is 
explained  by  the  effort  he  made  to  clear  the  University  of 
debt  by  what  became  known  as  the  "  land  scheme."  In 
the  year  1871,  the  University  debt  had  increased  to  one 
hundred  thousand  dollars,  and  the  outlook  was  so  discour- 
aging that  the  trustees  did  not  attend  the  annual  meeting, 
and  the  president  told  his  friends  that  he  was  willing  to  re- 
sign. At  this  moment  of  apparent  dissolution,  Mr.  Jas.  E. 
Burchelle  and  Mr.  B.  F.  Jacobs,  members  of  the  First  Bap- 
tist Church,  proposed  to  their  pastor  that  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  land  be  purchased  near  the  stock-yards,  and 
platted  and  sold  in  lots  at  such  an  advance  on  the  cost  price 


102  THE   LIFE   OF   REV.  W.  AV.  EVERTS,  D.D. 

that  the  profit  should  liquidate  the  entire  debt  upon  the  Uni- 
versity. These  gentlemen,  without  any  endorsement  from 
the  Board  of  Trustees,  but  with  the  promise  of  fifty  thousand 
dollars  from  the  president  for  the  first  payment,  bought  the 
property.  Their  pastor  took  five  thousand  dollars'  worth  of 
the  land  ;  they  invested  ten  thousand  dollars  in  it  at  the  advance 
price,  and  disposed  of  twenty-five  thousand  dollars'  worth  of  the 
property  besides  among  members  of  the  First  Church.  The 
managers  were  ultimately  compelled  to  advance  themselves  half 
of  the  amount  which  the  president  had  promised  to  meet 
the  first  payment,  and  they  still  owed  nearly  two  hundred 
thousand  dollars  on  the  property  when  the  great  Chicago  fire 
came  and  put  an  end  for  the  time  being  to  business  in  outside 
real  estate.  What  was  to  be  done  ?  Was  there  a  forlorn 
hope  anywhere  ?  On  January  5,  1S72,  in  reply  to  the  ques- 
tion, Can  the  land  be  sold  in  the  East  ?  Mr.  Phelps  answers, 
"  It  may  be^  if  you  can  spend  two  or  three  months  in  accom- 
plishing it.  I  do  not  believe  that  any  other  man  can  do  it." 
Encouraged  by  this  word.  Dr.  Everts  yielded  to  the  urgent 
petition,  dated  March  1-4,  1872,  and  signed  by  the  professors 
of  the  University  and  Seminary,  and  went  East. 

The  land  was  ofi'ered  for  sale,  not  so  much  as  an  invest- 
ment, as  on  moral  considerations,  to  save  the  University.  In 
Cleveland,  Buffalo,  Albany,  New  York,  and  Boston,  the 
Baptist  churches  were  visited,  and  in  the  latter  city  the 
noble  Shawmut  Avenue  Church,  under  Dr.  Lorimers  in- 
spiration, subscribed  twenty  thousand  dollars.  In  all,  sixty 
thousand  dollars  was  thus  secured,  and  by  this  wearing,  un- 
compensated, and  thankless  labor,  the  threatened  defeat  was 
averted,  and  fifty  thousand  dollars  was  put  to  the  credit  of 
the  University  of  Chicago.  But,  as  had  been  predicted,  he 
was  but  "  supporting  his  enemies."  The  president  was  not 
allowed  to  resign,  but,  on  the  other  hand,  was  publicly  credited 


THE   OLD   UNIVERSITY   OF   CHICAGO.  103 

by  his  adherents  with  the  success  that  others  had  achieved 
for  him.  Xot  satibfied  with  this  injustice,  they  inserted  bitter 
articles  in  the  local  papers,  in  which  they  attributed  the  long, 
arduous,  and  successful  labors  of  the  pastor  of  the  First 
Baptist  Church  in  behalf  of  the  University  to  an  insane 
ambition  on  his  part  to  become  its  president. 

Perceiving  the  impossibility  of  further  effort  for  those  who 
put  an  evil  interpretation  upon  the  most  unselfish  actions, 
and  with  the  promise  that  his  withdrawal  from  the  Board  of 
Trustees  would  be  followed  by  the  resignation  of  the  presi- 
dent, Dr.  Everts,  early  in  October,  1872,  wrote  the  following 
letter :  "  To  hasten  unity  of  counsel  and  facilitate  a  new  de- 
parture in  the  progress  of  the  University,  I  hereby  tender  my 
resignation  as  a  member  of  the  Board.  But  in  the  future, 
as  in  the  past,  I  shall  be  happy  to  do  all  in  my  power,  by  word 
or  deed,  to  assure  the  greatest  prosperity  of  our  noble  insti- 
tution." A  year  later,  on  December  30,  1873,  the  promise 
was  nominally  fulfilled.  The  chair  of  president  was  resigned, 
but  the  office  of  chancellor  was  created  at  the  request  of  the 
trustees,  and  filled  by  the  ex-president. 

The  Cldcago  Standard,  in  commenting  on  this  action  of  the 
Board,  expressed  the  hope  "  that  so  far  as  the  Baptist  denom- 
ination is  concerned,  as  well  as  others,  differences  and  debates 
will  now  cease."  But  the  conduct  of  the  Board  called  forth 
such  "  difference  and  debate '  in  the  Eastern  papers  that  it 
was  compelled  to  submit  its  affairs  to  the  investigation  of  the 
American  Baptist  Educational  Commission.  It  was  said,  '•  As 
to  the  statement  of  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees  as  to  the  financial  and  other  affairs  of  the  Chicago 
University,  they  must  not  expect  to  be  believed.  When  we  have 
the  report  of  the  Investigation  Committee  of  the  Educational 
Commission,  then  we  shall  know  where  we  are."  Samuel 
Colgate,  Gardner  R.  Colby,  Dr.  Edward  Lathrop,  Dr.  S.  S. 


104  THE   LIFE   OF  REV.  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 

Cutting,  and  Mr.  J.  F.  Wyckoff  accepted,  in  1875,  the  ap- 
pointment of  the  commission  to  examine  thoroughly  into  the 
affairs  of  the  University,  and  to  report  whether  it  was  worthy 
of  a  share  of  the  gifts  of  the  denomination  in  the  Centennial 
movement  of  the  year  1876  to  endow  institutions  of  learning 
throughout  the  country.  No  report  or  investigation  was 
ever  made,  because  a  telegram  was  received  from  Chicago 
informing  the  committee  that  the  books  of  the  treasurer 
"would  not  be  submitted  to  their  inspection. 

Dr.  Everts  had  been  chiefly  instrumental  in  arousing  the 
conscience  of  the  denomination  to  a  sense  of  its  responsibility 
in  saving  the  University,  and  in  producing  the  conviction  that 
wrongs  must  be  righted  and  justice  done,  or  the  University 
could  not  be  saved.  "  The  stimulation  of  public  conscience 
by  exposure  of  wrong,"  he  said,  "  is  far  more  important  than 
a  concealment  of  wrong,  thereby  confusing  public  conscience 
and  creating  distrust.  Ingenuous  confession  of  wrong  obtains 
the  forgiveness  of  men  as  well  as  of  God.  Purity  is  to  be 
sought  before  peace,  and  peace  can  be  assured  only  by  purity. 
But  with  just  history  of  the  past  locating  responsibility, 
at  least  approximately,  upon  wrong-doers,  and  approximately 
vindicating  the  innocent  and  true,  may  assure  confidence  and 
success  of  future  administrations.  If  God  graciously  over- 
rules the  wrath  of  men  for  good,  they  should  not  deny  their 
sin ;  especially  they  should  not  claim  credit  for  their  betrayal 
of  trust,  and  boast  of  the  honor  God  may  bring  out  of  their 
wrong-doing.  Let  history  of  public  enterprises  be  fully  and 
impartially  written,  for  the  truth  and  justice  of  history, 
whoever  may  suffer  for  it.  The  Scriptures  impartially  re- 
cord the  rebellion  against  Moses,  the  vices  of  David  and 
Solomon,  and  the  dispute  between  Paul  and  Barnabas." 

But  the  successful  agitation  of  such  sentiments  did  not 
pacify  the  administration  of  the   University.     A  responsible 


THE   OLD   UNIVERSITY   OP   CHICAGO.  105 

and  prominent  citizen  called  attention  in  the  Chicago  Trib- 
une to  certain  shortcomings  of  the  president  and  of  the 
administration  ;  whereupon,  on  January  17,  1874,  the  Ex- 
ecutive Committee  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  addressed  a 
note  to  the  deacons  of  the  First  Baptist  Church,  announcing 
that  their  pastor  was  held  personally  responsible  for  these 
allegations,  and  they  found  it  necessary  to  institute  measures 
to  vindicate  both  the  Board  of  Trustees  and  the  late  presi- 
dent of  the  University  from  the  aspersions  cast  upon  them. 
In  replying  to  this  effort  to  sow  discord  among  his  own  people, 
the  pastor  says :  "  What  public-spirited  man  in  Chicago 
could  look  on  indifferently  while  our  University  remained  at 
a  stand-still,  as  largely  in  debt  and  with  less  endowment  to- 
day than  seven  years  ago  ?  What  if  I,  a  member  of  the 
Board,  was  a  little  restless  under  it,'and  felt  that  the  adminis- 
tration was  to  blame  for  its  inefficiency  ?  The  correction  of 
false  statements  may  seem,  to  those  whose  lives  have  not  been 
devoted  to  public  objects,  of  trifling  importance,  but  to  those 
concerned  there  is  nothing  more  important.  The  greatest 
injustice  is  done  me  in  the  charge  that  I  seek  the  presidency. 
Why  have  not  witnesses  been  found  to  support  the  charge  ? 
If  true,  some  one  must  have  been  asked  to  promote  that 
object.  I  despise  those  who  sacrifice  public  trust  either  to 
personal  friends  or  prejudice.  If  I  have  been  beside  myself 
in  this  matter,  it  has  been  for  the  sake  of  no  office  or  emolu- 
ment. If  the  incompetency  of  the  president  has  been 
jeopardizing  the  promise  of  the  University,  my  opposition 
may  have  been  but  scant  loyalty."  Notwithstanding  con- 
tinuous attacks  upon  himself,  Dr.  Everts  wrote  to  William  B. 
Ogden  in  the  fall  of  the  year  187-4,  "  We  still  believe  Chi- 
cago University  will  yet  take  rank  with  the  greatest  institu- 
tions in  the  country.  He  also  advocated,  the  next  year,  the 
Centennial  movement  and  the  dollar  roll,  and  referred  to  the 


106  THE   LIFE   OF   REV.  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 

University  as  an  institution  whose  field  and  promise,  tliougli 
brought  into  great  doubt  and  peril,  are  yet  second  to  none  on 
the  continent." 

A  contemporary  estimate  of  the  relations  of  the  pastor  of 
the  First  Church  to  the  University  is  found  in  the  Examiner, 
of  New  York,  from  the  pen  of  Dr.  A.  K.  Potter,  of  Spring- 
field, Mass.  "  Men  sometimes  receive  very  hard  pay  for  hard 
work  in  a  good  cause.  So  it  seems  to  be  with  our  friend  Dr. 
Everts,  of  Chicago.  An  ill-natured  paragraph  is  going  the 
rounds  of  the  press  representing  the  University  and  Seminary 
at  Chicago  as  heavily  in  debt,  and  giving  Dr.  Everts  a  thrust, 
for  wishing  to  be  '  bishop  or  pope,'  and  '  possibly  president 
of  the  University.'  We  do  not  know  why  the  doctor  should 
wish  to  be  a  '  bishop,'  for  he  is  that  already,  and  has  been  for 
many  years.  He  could  not  wish  to  be  a  '  pope,'  for  he  knows 
very  well  that  popes  are  at  an  especially  large  discount  just 
now.  And  as  to  his  having  aspirations  for  the  presidency  of 
Chicago  University,  we  really  do  not  believe  that  he  has  ever 
had  the  feeblest  hankering  for  a  position  of  the  kind.  That 
he  has  earnestly  desired  to  see  the  University  liberated  from 
its  embarrassments,  and  in  a  career  of  high  prosperity,  we 
have  no  doubt.  That  he  has  sought  to  do  all  within  his 
power  to  give  it  such  prosperity  we  have  just  as  little  doubt. 
It  would  be  interesting  to  know  precisely  where  the  weak 
spot  in  the  University  administration  is,  if  it  has  a  special 
spot  of  this  kind.  But  we  apprehend  that  it  will  prove  to  be 
unproductive  business  to  throw  upon  Dr.  Everts  the  respon- 
sibility of  any  weakness  it  may  have.  It  is  not  his  way  to 
make  things  weak." 

Dr.  Henson  wrote,  in  March,  1885,  soon  after  coming  to 
Chicago :  "  There  have  been  suspicions,  at  least  in  the  East, 
and  possibly  nearer  home,  that  there  have  been  so  many 
irregularities,  to  put  it  mildly,  in  the  institution's  life,  that 


THE   OLD   UNIVERSITY   OF   CHICAGO.  107 

death  is  doom  that  is  richly  deserved.  If  there  have  been 
irregularities,  let  us  not  ignominiously  cover  them  up  in  the 
grave,  lest  their  ghosts  arise  to  plague  us,  but  let  us  heroically 
right  them." 

The  closing  years  of  the  Chicago  pastorate  witnessed  the 
call  and  violent  removal  of  President  Lemuel  Moss,  the  des- 
perate attempt,  in  January,  1877,  to  wrest  the  institution  from 
Baptist  control,  and  then  the  mortifying  effort  to  save  the 
wreck  by  repudiating  the  debt  due  the  insurance  company. 
But  nothing,  however  humiliating,  could  destroy  his  hope  in 
the  University.  "  I  have  great  hope  for  the  future  of  the 
University,"  he  writes.  "  God  will  bless  it.  I  have  prayed 
and  labored  for  it,  and  it  will  be  blessed."  While  in  the 
East,  and  after  returning  to  Chicago,  Dr.  Everts  sought  to 
raise  the  drooping  courage  of  old  friends  of  the  institution, 
and  to  secure  new  support  for  the  lost  cause.  When  the 
Inter-Ocean^  of  Chicago,  said,  "  Let  it  be  buried  forever  out 
of  sight,  let  it  be  forgotten,"  he  replied,  "  But  what  should  be 
forgotten  and  buried  out  of  sight  ?  Surely  not  the  cause  of 
higher  education  in  Chica2;o.  Nor  should  we  bury  out  of 
sight  the  honor  of  Douglas,  Chicago's  most  eminent  citizen. 
Nor  yet  should  we  bury  out  of  sight  the  names  of  other  public- 
spirited  citizens,  who  gave  two  hundred  thousand  dollars  to 
the  University.  If  it  is  attempted  to  bury  the  cause,  there 
will  be  a  resurrection  like  that  at  the  tomb  of  Joseph." 

Hope  did  not  expire  until  the  work  of  destruction  had 
actually  begun.  Then  he  wrote  this  lament :  ''  Day  by  day, 
from  the  window  of  my  dwelling,  I  look  out  with  tender 
feelings  upon  the  demolition  of  the  old  University  buildings 
now  going  on.  Already  windows  have  been  removed,  tur- 
rets toppled  over,  and  sections  of  the  walls  thrown  down. 
Passers-by  behold  the  apparent  vandalism  with  wondering 
inquiry.     Old  friends  stop  to  gaze  with  painful  regrets  and 


108  THE   LIFE   OF   REV.  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 

tearful  eyes  upon  the  broken  monument  of  noble  sacrifice. 
Alumni  come  to  view  the  ruins,  as  Nehemiah  to  the  desolation 
of  Mount  Zion."  Then,  as  he  writes,  he  hopes  against  hope. 
"  As  myriad  husks,  annually  falling  into  the  ground,  perish, 
while  the  precious  seed  they  cover  germinate  and  grow  into 
boundless  harvests  for  the  nourishment  of  the  race,  so  the 
precious  seed  of  believing  prayers,  of  noble  endeavor,  conse- 
cration, and  self-sacrifice,  remaining  after  the  destruction  of 
official  administrations,  and  external  embodiments  which  ob- 
structed rather  than  guarded  their  normal  growth,  will  spring 
up  and  flourish  in  varied  and  comprehensive  Christian  culture, 
diff"using  that  wisdom  and  knowledge  which  shaft  be  the  sta- 
bility of  our  times  and  the  strength  of  our  free  institutions.  A 
new  University  shall  emerge,  Phoenix-like,  from  the  ashes  of 
the  past,  in  grander  proportions,  more  beautiful  harmonies,  and 
more  glorious  achievements  than  were  anticipated  by  the  most 
hopeful  projectors  and  builders  of  the  past."  When  the  fond 
dream  was  so  speedily  realized  by  the  offer  by  Mr.  J.  D. 
Rockefeller,  first  of  six  hundred  thousand  dollars,  and  then 
of  one  million  dollars,  to  establish  a  new  University  of 
Chicago,  the  feelings  of  one  who  had  been  working  and 
praying,  hoping  and  weeping,  over  the  University  for  thirty 
years  can  only  be  expressed  in  the  language  of  Simeon  :  "  Now 
lettest  thou  thy  servant  depart  in  peace,  for  mine  eyes  have 
seen  thy  salvation." 


THE   THEOLOGICAL   SEMINARY  AT   CHICAGO.  109 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

THE   THEOLOGICAL   SEMINARY   AT   CHICAGO. 

At  the  semi-centennial  of  the  First  Baptist  Church, 
Chicago,  observed  in  1883,  Dr.  G.  W.  Northrup  declared 
that  "  the  most  notable  thing  in  the  history  of  Baptists  of 
Chicago  during  the  past  fifty  years  is  the  work  done  in  estab- 
lishing here  two  first-class  denominational  institutions."  Dr. 
Everts's  part  in  the  work  of  founding  the  Theological  Semi- 
nary is  of  no  slight  importance.  "  He  was  a  born  strategist, 
and  always  believed  in  seizing  the  strong  points  and  holding 
them  with  a  strong  hand.  Very  naturally,  therefore,  his 
whole  soul  was  enlisted  in  the  work  of  Christian  education, 
especially  as  related  to  the  evangelization  of  the  great  North- 
west. The  Theological  Seminary  now  located  at  Morgan 
Park  was  conceived  in  his  brain  and  born  in  his  study." 
Such  are  the  words  of  Dr.  P.  S.  Henson.  When  he  arrived 
in  Chicago,  the  question  of  establishing  a  Seminary  in  the 
West  was  being  agitated  in  the  press,  and  there  was  some 
thought  of  calling  a  convention  to  agree  upon  the  best  loca- 
tion. "  It  seemed  to  me  there  was  no  room  for  two  opinions, 
and  I  was  satisfied  that  waiting  for  a  convention  to  discuss 
the  location  might  only  divide  the  denomination  and  delay 
the  enterprise."  Hence,  at  the  commencement  of  the  Uni- 
versity, in  1860,  eight  gentlemen,  among  them  Revs.  J.  B. 
Olcott,  A.  J.  Joslyn,  and  J.  A.  Smith,  were  called  by  the 
pastor  into  a  small  room  of  the  First  Baptist  Church,  and 
persuaded  to  begin  the  new  enterprise  then  and  there,  upon 


110  THE   LIFE   OF   REV-  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D, 

the  basis  of  a  constitution  he  laid  before  them.  Imitating 
the  example  of  the  men  who  established  the  school  at  Ham- 
ilton, N.  Y.,  each  one  present  contributed  one  dollar,  and 
thus  planted  a  grain  of  corn  for  the  coming  harvest.  Year 
by  year  they  met  in  increasing  numbers,  awaiting  the  indi- 
cations of  Providence.  Rev.  Messrs.  Branch,  Olcott,  and 
Clarke  were  sent  out  in  turn  to  kwaken  an  interest  in  the 
proposed  Seminary  among  the  churches. 

During  the  winter  of  1864-65,  Dr.  Everts  found  time, 
while  he  was  in  New  York  City,  raising  the  endowment  for 
the  Greek  Chair  in  the  University,  to  make  a  beginning  in 
the  property  foundation  of  the  Seminary.  He  approached 
Mr.  Samuel  Colgate  in  behalf  of  the  University,  but  found 
him  unwilling  to  give  for  classical  education  so  far  away. 
"  If  you  ever  start  a  theological  institution,  we  may  give  you 
an  acre  of  land  we  own  on  the  west  side  of  Chicago." 
"  Thank  you,  Mr.  Colgate  ;  we  must  have  such  an  institution, 
and  then  we  will  hold  you  to  your  offer."  At  a  later  visit, 
though  with  great  reluctance,  Mr.  Colgate  placed  his  name  on 
the  list  of  subscribers  to  the  University,  with  the  understand- 
ing that  his  donation  should  go  to  that  object  only  on  condi- 
tion that  no  effort  was  made  to  put  up  a  building  for  the 
Seminary.  His  name  was  needed  on  the  list,  because  no  sub- 
scription to  the  Greek  Chair  fund  was  binding  until  twenty  five 
thousand  dollars  were  subscribed.  The  acre  was  valued  at 
five  thousand  dollars,  and  increased  the  total  amount  secured 
to  twenty-seven  thousand  dollars.  The  subscribers  were  in- 
formed of  the  condition  attached  to  the  Colgate  subscription 
and  were  satisfied.  "  We  have  had  but  one  opinion,"  writes 
Mr.  Colgate ;  "  it  is  to  aid  in  the  education  of  the  ministry.  We 
want  the  Seminary  to  have  it.  We  think  well  of  the  Univer- 
sity, but  more  of  the  Seminary."  This  acre  of  land  was  soon 
deeded  to  the  Seminary,  and  in  time  doubled  and  trebled  in 


THE   THEOLOGICAL    SEMINARY  AT   CHICAGO.  Ill 

value.  It  became  the  subject  of  grave  charges  against  Dr. 
Everts,  who  was  arraigned  by  the  Board  of  the  University 
for  "  taking  away  their  property." 

Others  besides  Mr.  Colgate  preferred  to  give  towards  a  the- 
ological institution,  so  that  before  Dr.  Everts  returned  to  Chi- 
cago he  had  secured  for  this  purpose  thirteen  .hundred  dollars 
in  cash,  besides  property  valued  at  five  hundred  dollars.  With 
this  capital  to  invest,  the  Board  of  Trustees,  who  had  been 
regularly  elected  August  28,  1863,  were  encouraged  to  pur- 
chase two  hundred  and  twelve  feet  of  land  on  Rhodes  Ave- 
nue, opposite  the  University.  This  property  was  purchased 
for  twenty-five  dollars  per  front  foot,  but  it  has  since  reached  a 
valuation  eight  times  as  great,  and  is  still  in  the  possession  of 
the  Theological  Seminary. 

The  first  teachers  employed  were  Dr.  Nathaniel  Colver  and 
Rev.  J.  C.  C.  Clarke,  and  among  the  first  students  was  D. 
L.  Moody.  This  young  clerk  was  encouraged  to  give  up  his 
business  and  engage  wholly  in  religious  work  by  the  profiered 
hospitality  of  Mrs.  Phillips,  a  member  of  the  First  Baptist 
Church,  and  in  Miss  Revell,  another  member  of  the  same 
church,  he  was  blessed  in  finding  a  worthy  companion. 

There  had  been  some  hope  that  the  First  Baptist  Church  of 
Cincinnati  would  support  Dr.  Colver,  when  he  left  their  pulpit 
for  the  Seminary,  from  certain  trust  funds  in  their  possession. 
This  hope  failing.  Dr.  Everts  accepted  the  invitation  of  Mr. 
Kingsland,  a  Chicago  friend  who  had  returned  to  Vermont  to 
live,  to  visit  Burlington  for  the  purpose  of  interesting  Messrs. 
Lawrence  Barnes  and  Mial  Davis  in  the  new  undertaking,  and 
he  was  much  encouraged  by  their  promise  to  consider  the 
matter  and  to  come  to  an  early  decision.  Soon  after  Dr.  Col- 
ver went  to  Boston,  his  old  tramping-ground,  to  secure  help 
for  the  Seminary,  but  he  accomplished  nothing  until  on  his  way 
home.     He  reached  Burlington,  where  the  way  had  been  pre- 


112  THE   LIFE   OF   REV.  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 

pared  for  hiro.  There  he  secured  the  promise  of  fifteen 
hundred  dollars  a  year  for  five  years,  a  pledge  that  was  after- 
wards changed  into  an  endowment  fund  of  seven  thousand 
five  hundred  dollars.  The  third  contributor  to  the  first 
large  gift  to  the  institution  was  Mr.  W.  W.  Cook,  of  White- 
hall, N.  Y. 

The  next  great  need  of  the  Seminary  was  books,  and  Dr. 
Everts  was  a  prime  mover  in  the  acquisition  in  turn  of  the  E. 
W.  Hengstenberg,  George  B.  Ide,  and  American  Bible  Union 
Libraries,  which  together  constitute  one  of  the  most  complete 
collections  of  the  sources  of  theology  in  the  world.  In  June, 
1869,  Dr.  Everts  received  in  Liverpool  the  following  letter 
from  his  son,  who  was  in  Berlin : 

"  Sitting  down  to  finish  this  letter,  whose  late  conclusion 
may  prove  providential,  I  am  very  much  wrought  up  on 
account  of  our  Theological  Seminary.  May  my  enthusiasm 
not  be  helpless.  May  you  be  better,  so  as  to  bear  it,  even 
happy  and  well  enough  to  favor  it,  and  that  quickly,  or  you  can 
never.  Hengstenberg's  library  is  the  matter  that  excites  me, 
and  well  it  may,  for  Prof.  Steinmeyer  just  told  me  that  proba- 
bly no  finer  theological  library  was  ever  collected  by  or  for  a 
private  person.  Prof  Dorner  is  moving  to  secure  it  for  the 
University.  Perhaps  I  may  stir  up  a  little  of  your  Chicago 
loyalty  by  saying  that  the  Neander  library,  now  at  Rochester, 
can  stand  no  comparison  with  this.  You  have  weighed,  while 
reading  this,  what  this  library  might  be  worth  to  Chicago 
and  to  our  Baptist  name.  I  will  add  no  airy  flights,  only 
this :  America  would  thereby  find  its  Christian  scientific  centre 
in  its  material  and  artificial  middle-point.  Oh  that  you  dared, 
with  your  far-sighted  wisdom  and  faith,  to  write  to  me  to 
secure  its  refusal,  or  the  permission,  perhaps,  to  bid  such  and 
such  a  sum  for  it.  Do  you  think  Chicago  would  reject  it, 
or  do  you  fear  she  would  not  share  in  purchasing  it  ?    Dear 


THE  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY  AT  CHICAGO.         113 

father,  do  as  you  please  about  all  this.  If  the  burden  is  too 
heavy  for  you  to  bear,  if  your  crowns  are  already  enough,  do 
not  wear  yourself  out,  even  for  the  Seminary."  To  this  he 
replied  on  the  16th  of  June  :  "  If  there  is  time  and  the  pro- 
fessors are  in  Chicago,  possibly  they  might  authorize  the  pur- 
chase and  send  on  one  thousand  dollars  as  first  payment. 
Write  immediately  to  Professor  Northrup  or  Jackson,  stating 
the  case  to  them,  so  that  they  could  answer  by  letter  or  tele- 
graph." On  June  25,  a  letter  addressed  to  the  Board  of 
the  Seminary  leaves  Berlin.  "  According  to  the  will,  the 
library  should  be  sold  to  a  Lutheran  institution,  but  the 
brother  of  Dr.  Hengstenberg  is  eager  to  seek  my  acquaint- 
ance. Dr.  Dorner  is  confident  the  collection  could  not  have 
cost  less  than  twenty  thousand  thalers,  and  could  not  be  col- 
lected for  that  to-day.  There  are  shelves  of  folios  that  cost 
five  or  ten  dollars  a  volume.  Can  you  calculate  the  imme- 
diate and  possible  value,  gentlemen,  of  such  a  library  in  our 
opening  Seminary?  It  would  dignify  your  more  material 
preparation  for  the  school.  Scholars  would  be  drawn  to  our 
halls  and  spread  our  fame.  Chicago  Baptists  are  like  the  pools 
of  Solomon, — never  empty.  I  am  assured,  too,  that,  taken 
together,  they  are  as  wise  as  Solomon.  I  might  as  well  explain 
a  political  fact  to  Solon  as  the  expediency  of  this  theological 
purchase  to  you.  My  selfish  services  will  naturally  be  at  your 
disposal  as  long  as  the  matter  is  on  hand.  Excuse  my  bold- 
ness, which  you  may  refer  to  the  hearty  interest  I  feel  in  this 
affair." 

On  the  7th  of  July,  Dr.  Everts  writes  from  Chicago  :  "  Pro- 
fessor Northrup  and  myself  have  taken  the  responsibility  of 
purchasing  the  Hengstenberg  library,  if  not  already  disposed 
of.  Hence  the  telegram  of  July  5  ordering  the  purchase, 
and  two  thousand  dollars  accompanying  this  sheet."  (The 
cablegram,  costing  seventeen   dollars,  was  sent  at  Dr.  North- 

8 


114  THE   LIFE   OF   REV.  AV.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 

rup's  expense,  so  eager  was  he  for  the  purchase.)  "  Act  with 
commensurate  tact  and  shrewdness,  and  get  the  library  as 
cheaply  as  possible.  Brother  Northrup  and  myself  are  not 
able  to  take  the  responsibility  we  have  assumed,  and  it  should 
be  made  as  light  to  us  as  possible.  You  may  agree  to  pay 
the  balance  in  sixty  or  ninety  days.  Let  there  be  no  blunder 
or  slip  in  the  purchase."  July  30  :  "  All  feel  the  importance 
of  the  library,  but  know  not  how  we  shall  pay  for  it  in  these 
distressed  times."  September  19  :  "  Collect  notices  of  press 
and  testimonies  of  scholars.  If  allowed  to  be  depreciated 
by  incompetent  or  envious  criticism,  it  would  greatly  hinder 
raising  money  to  purchase  it."  October  1 :  "  We  are  glad 
you  have  taken  refusal  rather  than  complete  purchase.  Our 
finances  are  so  straightened  that  many  of  the  Board  deemed 
it  folly  to  undertake  the  purchase.  Some  Western  educators 
question  the  value  of  the  library  to  a  poor  Seminary  unable 
to  purchase  many  newer  books.  This  increases  our  difficulty. 
To  protect  ourselves  against  these  objections  and  awaken 
sympathy,  letters  have  been  sent  to  Drs.  Hovey  and  Galusha 
Anderson,  of  Newton,  to  Williams  and  Conant,  of  New  York, 
and  others,  inquiring  whether  they  deem  it  wise  for  us  on 
general  principles  to  attempt  the  purchase.  While  waiting 
their  answers,  Mr.  J.  Young  Scammon  has  proposed  the 
founding  of  a  general  free  theological  library  and  purchasing 
the  German  library  as  a  nucleus.  This  might  be  just  as  well 
for  us,  and  pledge  earlier  and  greater  enlargement  of  the  en- 
terprise. Mr.  Scammon  might  do  much  for  it  himself  in 
that  case."  Upon  receiving  notice  that  the  refusal  would 
be  withdrawn  at  a  near  date,  Mr.  James  E.  Tyler  went  with 
Dr.  Everts  to  Mr.  Scammon's  office  and  induced  him  to  ad- 
vance the  additional  four  thousand  dollars  needed,  and  thus 
the  library  was  secured,  the  contributors,  excepting  Mr. 
Scammon  and  Dr.  Northrup,  being  members  of  the  congre- 


THE   THEOLOGICAL    SEMINARY  AT   CHICAGO.  115 

gation  of  the  First  Baptist  Church.  The  library  was  kept 
in  the  University  building  until  the  year  1874,  when  the 
claim  of  Mr.  Scammon's  estate  was  purchased  by  Mr.  E. 
Nelson  Blake,  and  this  wealth  of  learning  thus  came  into  the 
full  and  permanent  possession  of  the  Seminary. 

Meanwhile  the  library  of  Dr.  George  B.  Ide,  of  Spring- 
field, Mass.,  had  been  secured.  This  collection  of  three 
thousand  books,  which  were  written  chiefly  in  the  English 
language,  was  a  much-needed  supplement  to  the  Hengsten- 
berg  library,  whose  ten  thousand  volumes  were  almost  en- 
tirely in  other  languages.  Dr.  Everts  sent  his  son  to  Spring- 
field to  examine  the  books  upon  the  shelves,  and  then  to 
Philadelphia  to  negotiate  with  the  heirs.  The  following 
extracts  from  letters  tell  the  story  of  the  purchase.  June  26, 
1872  :  "  It  is  a  rare  treasure  for  our  Seminary  if  we  obtain 
it.  God  grant  we  may."  July  2 :  "  We  must  buy  these 
books ;  we  ought  to  have  every  one  of  them  (except  the 
'  Church  Fathers,'  which  are  in  the  Hengstenberg  library), 
or  we  will  have  to  pay  large  prices  for  them  in  poor  or  no 
bindings.  But  how  in  the  world  can  you  get  up  determina 
tion  to  try  to  raise  any  more  money  for  any  other  object  ? 
What's  done  must  be  done  quickly.  Mr.  Keen  was  about  to 
advertise  it."  July  3 :  ''  The  library  is  of  such  excellent 
character,  containing  so  many  works  we  must  have,  so  few 
we  will  not  need,  most  of  them  very  recent,  that  we  would 
never  regret  the  purchase."  August  9 :  Mr.  Charles  B. 
Keen  writes  from  Philadelphia,  "  Messrs.  Smith  and  English 
have  examined  the  library  for  me,  and  Mr.  English  says,  '  I 
am  free  to  say  I  never  saw  a  library  of  its  size  in  such  good 
condition,  so  free  from  poor  books,  and  in  every  way  so  de- 
sirable for  a  clergyman  of  culture  and  studious  habits.'  He 
expresses  the  opinion  that  they  are  very  cheap  at  four  thou- 
sand dollars.     As  you  had  the  refusal  from  me,  I  want  to 


116  THE   LIFE   OF   REV-  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 

know  very  soon  wliether  you  are  likely  to  buy  them."  When 
the  matter  came  before  the  Seminary  Board,  Dr.  Everts  ex- 
pressed such  confidence  that  the  churches  would  contribute 
towards  the  purchase  of  such  a  valuable  collection  of  books, 
that  the  trustees  were  persuaded  to  purchase  this  treasure  of 
literature. 

In  those  early  days  the  Seminary  rested  for  its  financial 
support  upon  four  laymen,  Messrs.  Goodyear  and  Holden,  of 
the  Second  Church,  and  Sheldon  and  Tyler,  of  the  First.  In 
November,  1874,  Dr.  Everts  visited  Cleveland,  where  he  had 
dedicated  the  Euclid  Avenue  Church,  and  drawn  out  large 
contributions  from  Mr.  John  D.  Rockefeller,  and  sought  to 
interest  the  coming  benefactor  of  Chicago  in  the  educational 
interests  centring  there.  Six  years  later  he  persuaded  Cap- 
tain Ebenezer  Morgan  to  purchase  the  American  Bible  Union 
library,  with  the  idea  of  presenting  it  to  a  theological  institu- 
tion either  at  Hamilton  or  at  Chicago.  Through  a  business 
transaction  with  Bev.  Dr.  Col  well,  of  Lowell,  Mass.,  this  library, 
under  the  name  of  the  Colwell  library,  came  into  the  possession 
of  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Chicago.  It  is  an  exhaustive 
collection  of  editions  and  versions  of  the  Bible  and  of  dic- 
tionaries, grammars,  and  commentaries,  gathered  at  an  esti- 
mated cost  of  seventy-five  thousand  dollars,  for  the  use  of 
the  revisers  of  the  English  Bible. 


LABORS  IN  BEHALr  OF  PURE  VERSIONS  OF  THE  BIBLE.    117 


CHAPTER    IX. 

LABORS    IN   BEHALF   OF   PURE   VERSIONS   OF   THE   BIBLE. 

Though  nearing  his  sixty- j&fth  birthday,  and  overwhelmed 
by  financial  diflBculties  in  which  his  enterprise  or  generosity 
had  involved  him,  his  superb  health  and  buoyant  spirits  did 
not  forsake  him.  The  First  Baptist  Church  in  San  Francisco 
for  the  third  time  in  vain  sought  his  services.  The  unani- 
mous call  extended  on  January  29,  1879,  by  the  Bergen 
Church  in  Jersey  City  was  accepted.  "  They  would  consider 
your  coming  an  act  of  condescension  of  which  they  felt  them- 
selves unworthy,  in  which  I  join."  Such  were  the  senti- 
ments of  a  leading  member  of  the  New  Jersey  church.  The 
enthusiasm  produced  by  the  new  pastor  was  at  once  turned 
to  account  by  the  successful  removal  of  a  debt  of  thirty-five 
thousand  dollars.  In  a  service  of  five  years  harmony  was 
restored  to  a  sadly-distracted  chufch,  one  hundred  and 
seventy-five  members  were  added  to  its  roll,  and  everything 
was  done  to  make  its  prosperity  permanent.  After  his  resig- 
nation of  the  pastorate,  which  was  tearfully  accepted,  he  con- 
tinued to  reside  in  Jersey  City,  and  was  happy  in  assisting 
his  young  succes^br  by  every  means  in  his  power.  But  the 
providence  of  God  in  his  settlement  in  Jersey  City  was  spe- 
cially marked  in  the  revolution  of  sentiment  of  Northern 
Baptists  that  took  place  under  his  leadership  with  regard  to 
the  publication  of  what  had  been  derisively  called  a  "  Baptist 
Bible." 

This  question  of  a  complete  translation  of  the  Bible  into 


118  THE   LIFE   OP   REV.  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 

English  naturally  arose  out  of  the  question  or  making  accurate 
versions  of  the  Word  of  God  into  other  languages.  When 
Baptist  missionaries  began  to  translate  the  Bible  into  the  vari- 
ous languages  of  India,  they  were  invited  to  co-operate  with 
the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society.  As  early  as  the  year 
1813,  they  were  asked  by  the  corresponding  secretary  of  that 
society  whether  in  the  versions  they  had  made  they  had  trans- 
lated the  Greek  word  "  haptizo^^^  immerse,  or  had  transliter- 
ated it,  that  is,  transferred  it  bodily.  As  the  missionary  en- 
terprise was  in  its  infancy  at  that  time,  and  translations  were 
few,  the  versions  made  by  these  missionaries,  on  the  principle 
of  translating  every  word  that  can  be  translated,  were  adopted 
by  the  society  and  widely  circulated.  But  at  length,  through 
these  pure  versions.  Baptist  ideas  were  found  to  be  spreading 
rapidly  throughout  India.  Consequently  the  society  decided 
adversely  the  petition  of  Messrs.  Pierce  and  Yates  for  assist- 
ance in  printing  a  new  addition  of  the  Bengali  New  Testament. 
These  Baptist  missionaries,  having  been  refused  help  in  Eng- 
land, then  appealed  to  the  American  Bible  Society.  Mean- 
time, in  April  1833,  the  American  Baptist  Board  of  Foreign 
Missions  instructed  their  missionaries  "  to  make  their  transla- 
tions as  exact  a  representation  of  the  mind  of  the  Holy  Spirit 
as  may  be  possible  ;  to  endeavor  by  earnest  prayer  and  diligent 
study  to  ascertain  the  precise  meaning  of  the  original  text ; 
to  express  that  meaning  as  exactly  as  the  nature  of  the  lan- 
guage into  which  they  shall  translate  the  Bible  will  permit, 
and  to  transfer  no  words  which  are  capable  of  being  literally 
translated."  Thereupon,  October  1,  1835,  the  Board  of  the 
American  Bible  Society  favorably  considered  a  resolution  that 
it  was  "  inexpedient  to  appropriate  any  funds  in  aid  of  trans- 
lating or  distributing  the  aforesaid  Bengali  New  Testament." 
However,  the  offer  was  made  to  contribute  the  amount  asked 
for   if  the    translation   of  the  Greek  word  for   baptism  was 


LABORS  IN  BEHALF  OF  PURE  VERSIONS  OF  THE  BIBLE.    119 

corrected.  Dr.  S.  H.  Cone,  one  of  the  Board,  objected  to  the 
injustice  of  demanding  a  correction  before  the  translation  had 
been  proved  to  be  incorrect.  "  The  Board  of  Managers  have 
no  right  to  forbid  the  translation  of  baptize  or  of  any  other 
word,  the  meaning  of  which  is  satisfactorily  ascertained,  or 
the  missionary  hereafter,  in  the  work  of  translation,  instead  of 
making  it  his  single  aim  to  please  God,  must  consult  primarily 
the  view  and  wishes  of  earthly  patrons.  The  idea  suggested 
that  the  versions  to  be  approved  must  not  materially  diflfer 
from  '  the  sense  of  the  authorized  English  version '  is  most 
strange.  We  have  been  taught  to  believe  that  the  sense  of 
the  Holy  Ghost  is  to  be  invariably  and  most  critically  pre- 
served. Had  the  principle  been  candidly  stated  and  uniformly 
acted  upon  by  the  society  in  the  appropriation  of  its  funds  for 
foreign  distribution,  the  Baptists  never  could  have  been  guilty 
of  the  folly  or  duplicity  of  soliciting  aid  for  translations  made 
by  their  missionaries." 

Deacon  William  Colgate  likewise  protested  against  the  pro- 
posed action  :  "  I  plainly  see  we  are  kindling  a  fire  in  this 
room  that  is  destined  to  burn  in  every  city,  town,  and  village 
throughout  the  United  States.  I  must  think  the  resolution 
before  you  is  quite  uncalled  for.  Heretofore  each  denomina- 
tion had  the  responsibility  of  its  own  translations,  and  it  has 
worked  well.  Let  each  one  continue  to  do  so.  I  can  assure 
you  the  Baptists  will  take  the  responsibility  of  theirs,  and  will 
not  covet  a  share  in  the  responsibility  of  others.  But,  sir, 
the  resolution  is  aimed  at  the  Baptists,  and  at  them  only.  Let 
not  this  noble  institution  be  severed  on  this  question ;  for 
we  have  never  on  this  question  used  deception.  We  have 
maintained  in  our  pulpits  and  by  the  press  and  beside  all 
waters  that  the  meaning  of  this  word  is  immersion,  and  im- 
mersion only,  and  I  believe  no  Baptist  ever  did  or  ever  will 
translate  it  differently.     Would  it  not,  sir,  be  very  unreason- 


120  THE   LIFE   OP   REV.  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 

able  to  expect  us  to  surrender  the  authority  of  God's  Word  to 
the  behest  of  this  society?" 

On  April  27,  1836,  it  was  determined  by  leading  Baptists 
that,  if  the  American  Bible  Society  sustained  the  action  of 
the  majority  of  its  Board,  a  convention  of  delegates  from  all 
Baptist  churches  should  be  summoned  to  meet  in  Philadelphia 
for  counsel.  This  action  was  taken  in  response  to  the  offer  of  the 
Board  of  the  American  Bible  Society  of  five  thousand  dollars 
for  translations  made  by  Baptist  missionaries,  provided  they 
were  conformed  in  the  principles  of  their  translation  to  the 
common  English  version,"  that  is,  provided  the  Greek  word 
"  haptizo''^  was  transferred  into  other  languages  as  it  had  been 
into  English,  untranslated.  When  Adoniram  Judson  heard 
of  the  new  condition  imposed  on  Baptist  missionaries,  he  said, 
*'  I  would  rather  lose  my  right  hand  than  tamper  with  the  Word 
of  God."  This  utterance  voiced  the  sentiments  of  the  delegates 
who  assembled  at  Philadelphia,  April  26, 1837;  to  deliberate  as 
to  the  duty  of  the  hour.  In  the  opinion  of  Professor  Knowles, 
it  was  "  the  largest  and  most  intelligent  assembly  of  Baptist 
ministers  and  laymen  that  has  ever  been  held.  There  was  a 
display  of  talent,  eloquence,  and  piety  which  we  venture  to 
say  no  other  ecclesiastical  body  in  our  country  could  surpass." 
There  was  unanimity  as  to  the  principle  of  translation  ;  but  as 
to  the  best  way  of  raising  money  for  translations,  there  was  dif- 
ference of  opinion.  Wayland  and  Sharp,  AVilliams,  Brantley, 
and  Ide  thought  that  funds  might  be  raised  through  the  Foreign 
Mission  Board,  but  the  great  majority  of  the  convention  fol- 
lowed Cone,  Welch,  McClay,  Kendrick,  and  Cushman,  who, 
on  the  ground  that  the  American  Bible  Society  had  forfeited 
the  confidence  of  the  denomination,  insisted  upon  the  neces- 
sity of  another  Bible  Society.  The  scope  of  the  work  of 
such  a  society  was  a  question  that  caused  another  division 
in   the   convention.     Whether   the  revision  of  the  English 


LABORS  IN  BEHALF  OF  PURE  VERSIONS  OF  THE  BIBLE.  121 

Scriptures  should  be  included  in  the  programme  or  not  was, 
for  the  sake  of  harmony,  held  in  abeyance,  and  the  Board 
of  the  new  society  were  instructed  to  confine  their  attention 
to  versions  in  foreign  languages  until  otherwise  ordered  by  the 
society. 

Dr.  Everts  was  one  of  the  youngest  delegates  to  this  con- 
vention. "  I  have  always  felt  an  elation  of  joy  in  being  thus 
early  and  from  principle  associated  in  a  humble  way  with  a 
movement  destined  to  reflect  such  honor  upon  the  Baptist 
denomination.  I  became  convinced  at  the  outset  of  my  public 
life  that  pure  versions  of  the  Scriptures  are  the  true  point  of 
departure  in  all  future  reformation  and  reunion  of  Christian 
churches ;  that  the  restoration  of  the  divine  organic  laws  of 
the  Church  in  the  constitution,  the  Bible  of  the  people,  would 
do  more  to  popularize  and  champion  the  Baptist  faith  than  all 
the  books  ever  written.  When  we  set  forth  in  the  Bible 
what  we  do  in  the  pulpit,  people  may  believe  us.  Preaching, 
and  not  printing,  is  inconsistent." 

During  his  settlement  in  New  York  City  he  was  a  member 
of  the  Board  of  the  new  "  American  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society,"  and  drafted  the  appeal  to  the  Legislature  for  the 
charter  that  was  so  bitterly  opposed  by  the  old  society.  Year 
after  year  the  question,  Has  not  the  time  come  for  English 
revision  ?  was  raised  in  the  meetin2;s  of  the  Board. 

Dr.  Everts  secured  the  passage  of  a  resolution  at  an  associa- 
tional  gathering  in  Putnam  County,  N.  Y.,  in  favor  of  such 
action,  and  at  an  anniversary  meeting  of  the  society  in  Phila- 
delphia he  advocated  the  appointment  of  a  court  of  critical 
scholars  to  take  into  consideration  the  alleged  faults  of  the  re- 
ceived version,  and  to  be  continued  from  year  to  year  till  the 
English  Bible  should  be  as  nearly  perfected  as  the  best  scholar- 
ship could  make  it.  A  few  years  later  Dr.  A.  C.  Kendrick 
and  a  few  others  prepared,  at  the  request  of  the  president, 


122  THE   LIFE    OP   REV.  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 

and  at  the  expense  of  the  treasurer  of  the  society,  a  tentative 
revision  of  the  New  Testament.  This  was  sent  out  to  the  mem- 
bers of  the  society  to  prepare  them  for  enlightened  action  at 
the  annual  meeting,  but  it  was  regarded  as  an  attempt  to  fore- 
stall action  and  as  a  usurpation  of  authority  by  a  few  men  who 
would  rule  the  denomination.  When  the  anniversary  arrived, 
the  tentative  revision  was  repudiated,  the  administration  of  the 
society  was  overturned,  and  the  most  bitter  and  destructive 
controversy  in  the  history  of  the  Baptist  denomination  began. 

Dr.  Cone  and  Deacon  Colgate,  who  had  separated  from  the 
Pedobaptists  for  the  cause  of  a  pure  Bible,  now  separated  from 
their  own  brethren  for  the  same  reason,  and,  with  other 
friends  of  English  revision,  formed  the  American  Bible 
Union. 

It  was  formed  in  New  York  in  the  summer  of  1850,  on 
the  day  after  Dr.  Everts  had  arrived  in  New  York  from  a 
sojourn  in  Europe.  He  found  at  his  house  old  friends  who  were 
in  the  new  movement,  and  offering  him  the  vice-presidency 
of  the  society  that  was  to  be  formed  on  the  morrow.  But 
they  had  been  anticipated  by  the  deacons  of  his  church,  who 
had  met  him  on  ship-board  and  entreated  him  not  to  attend  the 
meeting.  Out  of  regard  to  their  wishes  he  declined  the  office 
tendered  him,  but  he  assured  his  visitors  that  he  would  sup- 
port the  new  enterprise. 

"  He  was  quick  to  see  the  right,"  writes  Dr.  J.  W.  Sarles, 
"  and  was  quick  to  do  it  without  stopping  to  count  the  per- 
sonal cost  of  it  to  himself.  When  he  committed  himself  to 
English  revision  with  the  enthusiasm  that  belonged  to  him,  it 
was  likely  to  blast  the  reputation  of  a  young  man  like  him- 
self. He  conferred  not  with  flesh  and  blood.  But  the  Lord 
saw  that  a  commanding  reputation  was  given  to  him  in 
spite  of  it." 

In  the  spring  of  1879,  after  a  long  absence  in  the  far 


LABORS  IN  BEHALF  OF  PURE  VERSIONS  OF  THE  BIBLE.    123 

West,  he  returned  to  the  scene  of  his  early  labors.  The 
sentiment  concerning  the  revision  of  the  English  Scriptures 
had,  in  the  meantime,  completely  changed,  for  England  and 
America  were  awaiting  the  appearance  of  the  Canterbury 
version.  But  both  the  Baptist  Bible  Societies  had  become 
exhausted  by  their  "  thirty  years'  war."  The  American 
Bible  Union  was  on  the  verge  of  bankruptcy,  and  the  other 
had  sought,  on  several  occasions,  to  merge  its  existence  in 
that  of  some  other  organization,  and  had  become  as  unpopular 
as  its  rival.  Twelve  of  the  leading  Baptist  educators  and 
divines  recommended  that  the  denomination  return  to  the 
American  Bible  Society,  allegiance  to  which  had  been  broken 
with  such  righteous  indignation  fifty  years  before.  Such  were 
the  conditions  when,  in  April,  1879,  Dr.  Everts  attended 
meetings  of  the  Boards  of  the  two  Baptist  Bible  Societies. 
He  was  at  once  elected  a  director  of  both  societies,  and  be- 
came a  peacemaker  between  the  two,  and  urged  immediate 
union  of  Baptist  forces  for  the  better  prosecution  of  the 
work  of  each  society.  As  the  right  to  revise  the  English 
Scriptures  had  been  generally  conceded,  there  was  nothing 
left  to  divide  the  denomination  any  longer.  The  moment 
was  auspicious  to  complete  the  Bible  Union  version.  "  Save 
the  cargo,  the  principle  of  pure  versions,  if  one  or  both  of 
the  crafts  go  down,"  he  said.  "  Remove  the  scandal  of  divi- 
sion and  together  appeal  to  the  denomination  once  more." 
Both  bodies  appointed  committees  of  conference. 

Meanwhile,  to  popularize  the  new  movement.  Dr.  Everts 
arranged  for  a  mass-meeting  at  Martha's  Vineyard  that 
summer,  and  a  sermon  on  the  fundamental  importance  of 
"  Divine  Ordinances,"  which  he  preached  there,  was  circu- 
lated in  an  edition  of  ten  thousand  copies.  Friends  of  both 
societies  were  encouraged  to  assemble  at  Saratoga  just  before 
the  Baptist  anniversaries  of  the  year  1880.     These,  twenty- 


124  THE   LIFE   OF   REV.  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 

seven  in  number,  prepared  by  Dr.  Everts,  were  discussed  by 
the  convention,  and  all  but  two  of  them  were  adopted.  Dr. 
Everts,  whom  E.  Thresher  in  the  Journal  and  Messenger' 
described  as  "  the  all-inspiring  genius  of  the  occasion," 
preached  the  sermon  Sunday  morning,  at  the  close  of  which 
the  moderator,  Captain  Ebenezer  Morgan,  of  Groton,  Conn., 
arose  and  said,  "  This  great  question  lies  at  my  heart,  and 
takes  the  pre-eminence  over  all  other  calls  under  heaven,  the 
pure  word  of  God  to  all  the  nations.  If  we  owe  anything 
to  our  Divine  Master  we  owe  this,  since  it  was  given  to  us  in 
its  purity,  by  Him  to  the  apostles,  by  the  apostles  to  us.  '  He 
that  lacketh  wisdom,  let  him  ask.'  I  have  only  to  ask  and 
I  feel  to  do  without  another  word ;  the  real  necessity  is  upon 
me,  the  privilege  of  bearing  the  burden  in  this  great  work. 
I  have  had  it  upon  my  mind.  I  appreciate  it.  To-day  I 
would  make  an  offering :  in  your  presence  I  guarantee  in  five 
years  to  pay  twenty-five  thousand  dollars."  This  great  gift 
secured  once  more  the  long-suspended  service  of  Dr.  T.  J. 
Conant  upon  the  revision  of  the  Old  Testament.  It  did 
more.  The  whole  denomination  were  compelled  to  commend 
the  gift,  and  thus,  indirectly,  the  cause  of  English  revision. 

When  Captain  Morgan  and  Dr.  Everts,  as  representatives  of 
the  convention,  in  June  visited  Philadelphia  and  Boston  to 
secure  a  joint  conference  of  representatives  of  the  Boards  of 
the  Publication  Society  and  the  Missionary  Union,  to  confer 
with  like  committees  of  the  Bible  Societies  upon  the  best 
methods  of  magnifying,  and  if  possible  of  unifying,  Baptist 
Bible  work,  they  were  promised  the  desired  co-operation,  and 
the  conference  was  actually  held  in  November.  Thus  the 
Bible  question  had  gained  a  hearing  and  soon  became  the 
chief  topic  in  the  denominational  papers.  To  make  the  most 
of  this  new  interest  in  the  denomination,  and  to  provide  an 
organ  to  advocate  the  new  movement,  Dr.  Everts,  in  Decem- 


LABORS  IN  BEHALF  OF  PURE  VERSIONS  OF  THE  BIBLE.    125 

ber,  induced  his  old  friend,  Captain  Morgan,  and  members  of 
his  church  in  Jersey  City,  to  purchase  the  Watch-  Tower,  and 
•to  publish  it  in  behalf  of  pure  translations  of  the  Bible 
everywhere.  Free  copies  of  the  paper  were  sent  to  the  mis- 
sionaries, many  of  whom  wrote  back  in  favor  of  the  rehabilir 
tation  of  a  Bible  Society.  The  Baptist  Missionary  Union 
felt  the  effects  of  this  agitation  and  increased  its  appropria- 
tions for  Bible  work.  Dr.  Dean  wrote  from  Siam,  "  It  may 
be  said  to  the  Missionary  Union,  thy  brother,  the  Bible  So- 
ciety, is  not  dead,  thy  brother  shall  rise  again."  On  the  5th 
of  May,  1881,  the  change  in  the  constitution  of  the  Ameri- 
can and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  which  Dr.  Everts  had  been 
urging  for  two  years,  was  effected  by  the  passage  of  a  vote 
that  the  constitution  be  and  now  is  amended  by  striking 
out  the  words  ''  and  that  in  the  distribution  of  the  Scrip- 
tures in  the  English  language,  the  commonly  received  version 
will  be  used  until  otherwise  directed  by  the  society."  The 
gradual  enlightenment  of  the  denomination  was  apparent  at 
the  anniversaries  at  Indianapolis  that  year,  when  the  chief 
address  before  the  Publication  Society  took  strong  ground 
in  favor  of  a  pure  English  version.  The  very  dread  mani- 
fested towards  the  friends  of  the  Bible  Society  was  a  con- 
fession of  its  rising  power. 

With  the  view  of  furnishing  head-quarters  for  the  Bible 
Society  and  a  location  for  the  Bible  Union  Library,  Dr. 
Everts,  in  July,  1881,  encouraged  the  two  chief  stockholders 
in  the  Watch-Toioer  to  purchase  an  elegant  church  property 
on  Fifty-third  Street.  Here  Dr.  Gr.  W.  Samson  conducted 
for  a  time  a  Bible- Workers'  College,  and  the  edifice  was  held 
by  the  friends  of  the  Bible  Society  until  the  Baptist  City 
Mission  Society  secured  it  for  a  colored  church. 

As  soon  as  the  constitution  of  the  American  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society  had  been  changed,  arrangements  were  at  once 


126  THE   LIFE   OF   REV.  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 

made  to  revise  and  perfect  the  American  Bible  Union  Testa- 
ment. This  work  was  placed  under  the  general  direction  of 
Dr.  J.  C.  Wightman,  of  Taunton,  Mass.  "  May  you,  my 
dear  brother,"  Dr.  Wightman  writes,  February  9,  1882,  "  to 
whom  I  owe  this  high  honor,  never  have  occasion  to  regret 
the  kindly  recommendations  which  you  have  given  me."  At 
the  Baptist  anniversaries  of  the  year  1882,  the  Bible  Society 
had  recovered  its  former  place  among  the  great  denomina- 
tional societies.  Jubilantly  Dr.  Everts  writes,  "  The  attempt 
to  bury  the  Bible  Society,  assuming  its  death  or  moribund 
condition,  has  met  with  such  resistance  as  to  show  it  is  still 
throbbing  with  a  vigorous,  though  obstructed,  life.  To  pro- 
ceed further  with  the  funeral,  considering  the  numbers  de- 
voted to  the  society,  would  be  like  burying  a  hundred  persons 
alive.  Such  premature  pageant,  longer  persisted  in,  will  fill 
the  land  with  scandal,  discredit  the  undertakers^  and  be  fol- 
lowed by  a  resurrection  to  a  prolonged  and  effective  life." 

In  response  to  a  New  York  correspondent  of  the  Religious 
Herald^  of  Richmond,  Ya.,  who  remarked,  with  irritation, 
"  But  for  the  energy,  resources,  and  persistency  of  Dr.  Everts, 
the  Bible  question  would  have  been  settled  ere  this,"  he  said. 
"  The  championship  of  the  truth  is  the  only  leadership  a 
Christian  should  covet.  Its  fruit  may  spring  up  along  the 
path  and  over  the  graves  of  God's  servants.  We  are  not  ready 
to  exchange  places  with  our  critics  in  the  history  and  final  judg- 
ment of  the  great  Baptist  Bible  movements."  At  the  sug- 
gestion of  the  Bible  Society,  concurrent  action  was  taken  by 
the  other  denominational  societies  to  arrange  for  a  general 
Bible  Convention.  The  effort  to  secure  a  representation  from 
the  churches  in  this  convention,  as  in  that  of  1837,  failed,  as 
did  the  plan  to  secure  delegations  from  the  Southern  States, 
by  meeting  in  Cincinnati.  The  result  was,  "  We  went  to 
Saratoga  with  the  rope  around  our  necks,  ready  to  be  hung." 


LABORS  IN  BEHALF  OP  PURE  VERSIONS  OP  THE  BIBLE.    127 

But  Dr.  Everts  secured  the  passage  by  the  Bible  Society  of 
this  ultimatum  to  the  convention  :  The  American  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society  will  not  dissolve  unless  "  the  continuance  of  the 
revision  of  the  English  Scriptures  on  the  basis  of  the  Bible 
Union  revision  of  the  New  Testament  and  Dr.  Conant's 
revision  of  the  Old  Testament  be  provided  for." 

Captain  Morgan  had  planned  to  complete  the  revision  of 
the  Old  Testament  at  his  own  expense,  and  had  made  ar- 
rangements with  Harper  Brothers  to  publish  the  work  when 
completed  by  Dr.  Conant.  After  expending  nine  thousand 
dollars  on  the  operation,  the  plan  failed  on  account  of  an  in- 
junction threatened  by  a  member  of  the  American  Bible 
Union.  In  spite  of  determined  opposition,  the  Publication 
Society  has  sacredly  honored  the  ultimatum  of  the  Bible  So- 
ciety, and  is  now  completing  the  revision  of  both  the  Old 
and  the  New  Testaments.  Thus  the  cargo,  the  principle  of 
a  pure  English  version,  has  been  saved,  though  the  crafts, 
the  American  Bible  Union  and  the  American  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society,  have  both  gone  down.  As  Dr.  G.  W.  Samson 
says,  "  Many  a  cause  that  he  loved — Bible,  mission,  and  col- 
lege work — took  a  shape  unlike  what  he  had  conceived  ;  but 
the  Master  of  Assemblies  was  overseeing  His  own  work, 
marshalling  His  builders,  giving  every  one  his  place  to  drive 
a  nail,  but  allowing  no  one  to  comprehend  His  plans  as  the 
great  Architect." 

"  Sometimes,  in  the  crisis  of  a  great  battle,"  wrote  Dr. 
Everts,  "  through  misapprehension  of  orders  amid  the  din, 
smoke,  and  hasty  movements,  the  line  of  an  army  is  thrown 
into  confusion,  and  divisions  and  battalions  are  found  attack- 
ing and  slaughtering  each  other  rather  than  a  common  enemy. 
At  length  the  smoke  of  battle  clears  away,  the  common  banner 
is  seen  floating  over  terrific  and  tumultuous  scenes,  and  each 
corps,  battalion,  regiment,  and  company  hastens  to  fall  into 


128  THE   LIFE   OF   REV.  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 

line  in  its  proper  place,  facing  and  fighting  the  common  foe. 
So  Christendom,  misapprehending  the  order  of  the  Great 
Commander  of  the  sacramental  host  of  God's  elect,  and  fol- 
lowing unauthorized  standards,  spends  more  of  her  resources 
of  culture,  piety,  and  official  organization  in  mutual  rivalries 
and  antagonisms  than  in  the  spiritual  conquest  of  the  unbe- 
lieving world.  But  when  above  the  Babel  of  sects  they  hear 
the  one  majestic  voice  of  the  one  Lord  of  all,  and,  uplifted 
above  the  standards  of  the  sects,  they  see  floating  in  serene 
majesty  the  exclusive  banner  of  the  Christian  faith,  they  will 
disengage  themselves  from  all  partisan  alliances  and  unite  in 
the  simple  order  and  discipline  of  the  one  apostolic  church 
of  Christ,  answering  the  prayer  of  the  Messiah  for  His 
church,  '  that  they  may  be  one.'  " 


THE    JOURNEYS    END.  129 


CHAPTER    X. 

THE   journey's   END. 

After  the  termination  of  his  successful  labors  in  uniting 
the  Bible  Societies  and  in  leading  the  denomination  to  more 
aggressive  work  in  the  distribution  of  a  pure  Bible,  he  natu- 
rally found  his  way  back  to  kindred  and  friends  in  Chicago. 
The  winter  of  1886  and  1887  was  spent  in  the  South  under 
appointment  of  the  Missionary  Union.  The  specific  purpose 
of  this  tour  among  the  home  mission  schools  was  to  arouse 
an  interest  among  the  colored  people  in  the  Congo  mission- 
field.  "  My  men  have  of  their  own  spontaneous  promptings 
prayed  for  you  in  the  meetings,"  wrote  Principal  Ayer,  of 
Jackson,  Miss.,  "  and  they  have  a  certain  reverence  for  you 
which  I  have  never  seen  in  them  for  another."  The  students 
at  Spellman  Seminary  at  Atlanta  expressed  the  hope  that 
''  the  near  future  will  show  a  beautiful  harvest  in  the  sending 
forth  of  missionaries  to  the  dark  continent." 

Dr.  Everts's  reception  in  Chicago  and  Illinois,  on  his  return 
to  the  West  in  the  fall  of  1886,  was  exceedingly  gratifying. 
The  following  clipping  from  the  church  paper  tells  the  story 
of  the  reunion  with  his  old  people  :  "  Welcome  home.  At 
our  last  communion,  on  December  5,  among  the  number  of 
those  who  received  the  right  hand  of  fellowship  were  Dr.  W. 
W.  Everts  and  his  wife.  The  whole  church,  as  the  pastor 
extended  his  hand,  rose  to  their  feet  in  token  of  the  hearti- 
ness of  their  welcome.  There  were  many  wet  eyes  as  the 
pastor  in  appropriate  words  referred  to  the  noble  work  which 

9 


130  THE   LIFE   OF   REV.  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 

Dr.  Everts  had  done  during  his  long  and  laborious  ministry 
in  Chicago,  to  the  eminent  sagacity  he  displayed  in  the 
choice  of  the  church's  present  location,  and  the  broad  and 
deep  foundations  that  he  laid,  upon  which  the  church  now 
so  solidly  rests,  for  all  of  which  his  successors  in  ofl&ce  should 
never  cease  to  be  profoundly  thankful.  Dr.  Everts,  himself, 
was  deeply  moved,  as  well  he  might  be,  and  all  felt  that  the 
occasion  was  one  of  very  deep  and  tender  interest." 

Then,  at  the  next  meeting  of  the  State  Convention  at  Rock 
Island,  to  his  surprise  he  was  elected  Moderator  of  that  body. 
To  this  honor  at  the  hands  of  his  own  denomination  was 
added  another  from  others  in  the  presidency  of  the  Illinois 
Sabbath  Association.  But  he  was  not  content  with  honors, 
for  his  restless  energy  sought  an  outlet  in  ministering  to  strug- 
gling city  missions  and  suburban  churches.  His  pen  was 
kept  busy  in  furnishing  optimistic  articles  for  the  press, 
and  especially  in  putting  in  prominent  form  the  ideas  and 
principles  to  which  his  life  had  been  devoted.  This  was  done 
in  a  volume  entitled  "  The  Christian  Apostolate,"  and  as  he 
finished  the  last  page  he  exclaimed  "  I  have  an  impression  I 
will  finish  my  life  with  my  book." 

The  heart  which  had  inspired  so  many  was  now  incapable 
of  sustaining  the  life  of  one,  and,  according  to  his  predic- 
tion, life  and  book  were  finished  together,  September  25, 
1890.  With  eye  undimmed,  with  faith  undaunted,  with 
hope  that  never  questioned  the  ultimate  realization  of  the 
principles  to  which  his  life  had  been  so  ardently  devoted, 
he  heard  the  knocking  of  his  Master  at  the  door,  and  as  a 
watchful  servant  he  arose  to  let  him  in.  "  If  true  of  any 
man  since  the  author  of  the  sentence,  '  I  have  finished  my 
course,  I  have  kept  the  faith,'  it  is  true  of  Dr.  Everts."  So 
wrote  Mr.  Arthur  Peter,  from  Louisville. 

On  the  following  Sabbath  afternoon  a  great  concourse  of 


THE  journey's  end.  131 

people  gathered  to  his  burial.  There  was  the  silver-haired 
clerk  who  wrote  the  letter  inviting  him  to  Chicago  in  1852,  a 
deacon  who  had  served  with  him  in  Louisville,  pastors  whom 
he  had  helped  at  dedications  and  in  revivals,  brethren  from  the 
feeble  churches  who  were  always  stronger  after  meeting  him, 
many  whom  he  had  baptized,  representatives  of  other  denom- 
inations, rabbis,  priests,  leaders  in  reform,  and  noble  women 
not  a  few.  "  Though  more  than  a  decade  had  passed  since 
he  ceased  his  active  ministrations  in  this  city,  he  seems  to 
be  as  vividly  and  gratefully  remembered  as  though  he 
had  vacated  the  pastoral  office  only  yesterday.  And  that 
this  should  be  the  fact  in  a  city  so  changeful  as  Chicago 
speaks  volumes  as  to  the  depth  and  permanence  of  the  im- 
pression left  by  his  life  and  labors." 

The  Rev.  Dr.  P.  S.  Henson  delivered  the  following  beauti- 
ful eulogy :  "  '  May  my  death  be  that  of  the  righteous,  and 
may  my  last  end  be  like  his.'  It  seems  to  be  appropriate  that 
his  own  pastor  should  lay  the  first  wreath  upon  this  coffin. 
And  yet  not  a  wreath,  but  just  a  few  flowers  of  memory 
fragrant  at  least  with  love,  however  lacking  they  may  be 
in  beauty.  It  was  my  privilege  to  be  his  pastor.  He  had 
been  my  predecessor.  It  is  not  commonly  counted  by  a  pastor 
a  privilege  to  be  the  pastor  of  his  predecessor,  and  yet  out  of 
the  depths  of  my  heart  I  want  to  say  that  no  pastor  ever  had 
a  truer  yoke-fellow,  ever  had  a  more  earnest  co-laborer,  ever 
had  a  more  faithful  counsellor  or  a  truer  friend,  and,  as  Jacob 
said,  '  If  I  am  bereaved,  I  am  bereaved  indeed.'  My  arm 
is  weaker  and  my  heart  is  fainter  and  my  way  is  lonelier  be- 
cause he  is  gone,  and  this  church  is  poorer,  and  this  city  and 
this  world.  I  honored  and  revered  him,  I  loved  him, 
and  he  was  worthy  of  it  all.  He  was  a  man  every  inch,  an 
honest  man,  a  Christian  man,  a  noble  man,  a  man  of  convic- 
tion,— as  you  know  and  as  all  know, — deep-rooted,  intense, 


132  THE   LIFE   OF   REV.  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 

a  part  of  his  being ;  and  he  had  the  courage  of  his  con- 
victions. 

"  If  you  look  for  his  prototype  in  God's  book,  you  will  find 
it  in  Caleb.  Caleb  said,  '  Let  us  go  up  and  possess  the  land. 
Let  us  at  once  go  up  and  possess  the  land,  for  we  are  able  to 
overcome  it.'  So  spake.  Caleb,  and  so  spake  William  Wallace 
Everts.  They  said  he  was  visionary — so  they  said  of  Caleb  ; 
impracticable — so  they  said  of  Caleb.  And  when  Caleb  was 
now  an  old  man  he  crossed  the  Jordan  with  his  fellow-patriot, 
Joshua,  and  they  asked  him  what  he  would  take  as  his  choice, 
what  should  be  the  portion  of  his  inheritance,  and  he  said,  '  I 
am  not  so  young  as  I  used  to  be,  but  there  is  still  some  fire  in 
my  bones.  I  said  we  could  thresh  the  sons  of  Anak,  and  I  see 
them  now.  They  are  insolent  yonder  amid  the  crags  of  that 
stronghold  of  theirs  in  this  mountain.  Give  me  this  moun- 
tain !  Not  some  fair,  fat  valley,  far  toward  yonder  sea,  but 
give  me  this  mountain !'  And  he  stormed  that  mountain,  he 
threshed  the  sons  of  Anak  out,  and  made  it  his  strong- 
hold. Our  beloved  brother  was  a  warrior,  A  hero  of 
DAUNTLESS  COURAGE.  He  never  sighed  for  a  soft  place,  but 
evermore  his  language  was, '  Give  me  this  mountain,'  and  many 
a  mountain  did  he  storm,  many  a  stronghold  did  he  take.  An 
intrepid  leader,  and  God  blessed  him  with  intrepid  followers. 
You  know  how  he  carried  himself  among  you  here.  You 
know,  like  Henry  of  Navarre,  he  led  in  battle,  and  where  the 
plume  of  your  chieftain  waved  you  followed  in  the  ranks  of 
war.  A  soldier,  courageous,  with  convictions,  having  faith  in 
God  and  faith  in  the  future  of  God's  cause  in  the  world. 

"  And  while  he  had  convictions,  and  the  courage  of  his  con- 
victions, he  had  a  charity  as  broad  as  humanity.  The  most 
chivalrous  of  warriors  was  he ;  no  trace  of  unkindness,  mag- 
nanimous, generous.  He  fought  when  principle  was  at  stake, 
and  yet  even  to  a  foe  he  showed  generousness  and  love.     No 


THE   journey's    END.  133 

malice  bore  he  to  any  living  man,  nor  did  I  ever  hear  those 
now  sealed  lips  utter  a  word  of  bitterness.  I  have  listened  to 
him  when,  with  tongue  of  fire,  trumpet-tongued,  he  thun- 
dered his  convictions,  but  never  were  those  lips  defiled  with 
words  of  bitterness  that  ever  I  heard.  He  was  a  man  op 
GREAT  BREADTH.  He  loved  the  world.  He  longed  for  the 
salvation  of  the  world.  He  loved  this  church.  God  only 
knows  how  he  loved  it.  He  laid  its  foundation-stone,  its  top- 
stone.  He  rejoiced  over  it  as  a  father  over  a  child.  He 
wrought  his  love  into  these  walls,  and  they  resounded  with  his 
eloquence.  He  loved  this  church.  But  he  was  not  bounded 
by  this  church.  He  loved  this  city.  He  believed  in 
Chicago.  But  he  was  larger  than  Chicago.  He  loved 
this  country.  He  believed  in  America.  If  ever  a  patri- 
otic heart  beat  in  a  human  bosom,  it  was  that  heart  in 
that  bosom.  But  he  was  broader  than  America.  His  field 
was  the  world.  For  it  he  prayed.  He  was  a  foreign  mis- 
sionary. His  sympathies  went  out  to  the  ends  of  the  earth. 
He  loved  his  denomination.  He  was  a  Baptist  out  and  out, 
through  and  through,  on  conviction.  He  had  the  courage  of 
his  convictions,  and  in  no  presence  did  he  hesitate  to  utter  his 
conviction.  But  he  loved  all  that  loved  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
in  sincerity,  and  the  presence  on  this  platform  of  the  rep- 
resentatives of  other  denominations,  the  presence  in  this  audi- 
ence of  the  representatives  of  all  denominations,  declares  how, 
in  spite  of  the  thoroughness  of  his  denominational  beliefs  and 
his  fearlessness  in  their  proclamation,  he  impressed  himself  upon 
all  this  great  community  as  a  man  of  the  broadest  and  most 
CATHOLIC  Christian  sympathies.  A  more  unselfish  man 
never  lived.     His  last  thought  was  of  himself. 

"  There  were  some  things  that  he  dearly  loved,  and  that 
he  thoroughly  believed  in.  First  of  all,  in  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  whose   loyal,   devoted   servant   he   was    through   all 


134  THE   LIFE   OF   REV-  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 

these  years  of  battle.  And  he  loved  the  old  book  (point- 
ing to  the  great  Bible  on  the  desk).  If  there  was  anything 
on  earth  that  he  loved,  it  was  that  book ;  anything  in  this 
world  that  he  believed  in,  it  was  that  book.  The  great  pur- 
pose of  his  life  and  desire  was  to  give  that  book  to  the 
world.  You  remember  how  devoted  he  was  to  the  interests 
of  the  Bible  Society,  whose  purpose  it  was  to  give  that  word 
in  its  absolute  purity  to  all  the  world.  He  loved  that  book. 
He  believed  that  if  salvation  is  to  come  to  this  world  it  is  to 
come  out  of  that  book.  And  so  he  hugged  it  to  his  heart, 
and  cherished  it  as  his  life-blood. 

"  He  was  full  of  enthusiasm.  A  characteristic  thing  about 
him  was  conviction,  courage,  faith  in  God,  a  faith  so  strong 
that  he  was  inspired  with  enthusiasm  in  pursuit  of  it,  and 
even  to  life's  latest  hour  so  joyous,  exuberant,  bounding, 
buoyant,  full  of  zeal,  full  of  that  spirit  of  spontaneous, 
gushing,  hearty  sympathy  with  all  things  beautiful  and  noble, 
that  it  was  a  refreshment  and  an  inspiration  to  commune  with 
him.  His  eye  was  not  dimmed  nor  his  natural  force  abated. 
Only  yesterday,  it  seems  to  me,  I  saw  him  as  he  marched 
the  streets  like  a  soldier.  We  walked  together,  arm  in  arm, 
and  his  invincible  buoyancy  asserted  itself.  As  we  neared 
his  home  he  said,  '  I  feel  better  now.' 

"  I  thank  God  that  he  was  spared  to  see  the  dawn  of  a  new 
day.  If  there  was  anything  that  came  nearer  than  all  other 
things  to  breaking  his  heart,  it  was  the  terrible  disaster  that 
overtook  our  educational  interest.  The  Theological  Seminary 
had  its  origin  in  his  study.  To  the  work  of  education  he 
was  devoted  all  through  life,  and  when  the  University,  the 
old  University,  toppled  to  its  fall,  he  bowed  his  head  like  Eli 
in  the  gate  when  the  ark  of  God  was  taken.  But  when  the 
new  day  dawned  he  was  exultant  and  jubilant ;  he  felt  like 
Simeon  when  he  said,  '  Now,  Lord,  lettest  Thou  Thy  servant 


THE   JOURNEY  S    END.  135 

depart  in  peace,  for  mine  eyes  have  seen  Thy  salvation.' 
And  in  his  home,  when  the  last  million  crowned  the  noble 
benefioence  of  Mr.  Rockefeller,  he  could  scarcely  refrain  from 
shoutiog,  such  was  his  exultant  joy.  The  day  before  his 
death  he  put  the  last  touches  to  his  life's  crowning  work, 
'  The  Christian  Apostle.'  '  It  seems  to  be  finished,'  he  said, 
*  that  I  should  go  now.  My  life  work  is  done.  My  book  is 
done.  My  work  is  done.'  And  the  next  day  he  closed  his 
eyes.  God  said.  It  is  enough,  it  is  enough ;  come  up 
higher.  A  great  man  has  fallen  in  Israel.  May  his  mantle 
fall  on  his  unworthy  successor." 

The  following  poem,  written  by  his  life  friend.  Dr.  W.  C. 
Richards,  was  then  read  by  the  author : 

When  at  the  dawn  I  learned  that  thou  wast  dead, 
A  numbness  seized  this  heart  of  mine ; 

Its  strength,  its  joy,  its  consciousness  had  fled  ; 
It  failed,  but  only  not  like  thine. 

Thou  dead  !  and  since  the  sun  of  yesterday 

Had  in  the  western  sky  declined, 
My  half-bewildered  senses  gone  astray — 
I  queried  had  it  ever  shined. 

How  could  I  less  than  seem  with  thee  to  die, — 
Thou  but  some  short,  quick  steps  in  front, — 

And  always  brave  and  strong  with  conflict  nigh, 
To  shrink  not  from  the  battle's  brunt. 

Thou  wert  a  warrior  from  thine  ardent  youth, 

Yet  never  gentler  soul  drew  breath  ; 
Thy  zeal  was  that  for  God,  and  man  and  truth, 

And  loyal  to  thy  Lord  to  death  ! 

Schoolmates,  companions,  comrades,  friends, 
Our  hands  nigh  sixty  years  had  grasped  ; 

Nor  faithful  memory  one  glance  backward  sends. 
Where  only  hands — not  hearts — were  clasped. 


136  THE   LIFE   OP   REV.  W.  W.  EVERTS,  D.D. 

My  "brother  bt  a  fatherhood  divine, 

So  near  me  then,  I  saw  thy  face. 
And  pressed  thy  hand, — thy  summons  was  not  mine ; 

And  thou  alone  hast  done  the  race. 

And  it  is  mine  still  less  to  say,  "  Well  done !"    " 

And  if  I  might,  mute  yet  these  lips  ; 
As  stars  fade  out  before  the  shining  sun, 

Thy  Master's  words  must  mine  eclipse. 

And  His  ""Well  done  !"  has  greeted  now  thine  ear 

And  rapt  thy  soul  to  ecstasy  ; 
My  faith  the  marvellous  echo  seems  to  hear 

KoU  softly  o'er  the  jasper  sea. 

Who  called  thee  from  us,  "doeth  all  things  well," 

And  He  in  perfect  time  and  way 
Eent  thy  pure  spirit  from  its  mortal  spell, 

And  to  a  crown  transformed  its  clay. 

"  Well  done  of  heaven  in  this" — my  faint  lips  sigh — 

To  take  thee  ere  I  saw  the  sign ; 
Farewell,  sweet,  sainted  soul,  now  throned  on  high, 

Till  I  shall  share  thy  bliss  divine. 

If  such  my  faith,  O  widow,  daughters,  son. 
Who  droop  and  weep  beneath  Death's  pall, 

Kestrain  your  tears.     His  life  is  just  begun; 
In  God's  great  home  he  waits  you  all ! 


THE   END. 


y._ 

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